2024 Updates
November 29, 2024
Highlights of the USask/PSAC Graduate Student Employees Collective Agreement
The tentative Collective Agreement between the University and PSAC – Graduate Student Employees was signed on October 10, 2024. The tentative agreement was approved by the University Board of Governors on November 20, 2024, and ratified by PSAC – Graduate Student members on November 22, 2024.
The highlights of the agreement covering September 1, 2023, to August 31, 2027, include:
Appointments
- Removal of existing preference system of appointment for Teaching Assistants
- Teaching Assistant appointments will be made considering the qualifications, skills and ability of the candidate(s) and may include: academic merit, related experience (prior TA appointments within the department), demonstrated efficiency, the career and/or pedagogical value that the experience in a particular position will provide the graduate student
- Students are to express their preference when applying for multiple job postings including any information that may assist in the selection process
- Priority will be given to qualified graduate students that received a commitment of a TA appointment as part of the funding offered by the Employer at the time of admission to the graduate program.
University Holidays
- Addition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (September 30) as a statutory holiday
- New article regarding employee’s observation of religious or cultural observances or participation in traditional indigenous practices
- Employees may request a leave of absence and if approved by the employment supervisor, either reschedule assigned hours without loss of pay or take leave without pay
Sick Leave & Family Responsibility Leave
- Where a medical certificate is requested by an employment supervisor for extended absences, the graduate student employee will be reimbursed, by the supervisor, for the cost of the certificate up to a maximum of $30.
Bereavement Leave
- Revisions to application of bereavement leave
- Employees may be granted bereavement for up to 5 days, 3 days with pay
- An employment supervisor may grant leave in a manner different that prescribed dependent on the circumstances
Schedule A: Rates of Pay
|
Effective Sept 1, 2023 (non-retroactive) |
$ 22.34 |
|
Effective December 1, 2024 (first of the month following date of ratification) |
$ 23.57 |
|
Effective Sept 1, 2025 |
$ 24.87 |
|
Effective Sept 1, 2026 |
$ 25.61 |
Effective January 1, 2025, Research Assistants (RAs) and Student Assistants (SAs) may be paid at an hourly rate above the rates of pay listed in Schedule A.
Note: Implementation of the new Schedule A: Rates of Pay will occur as of December 1, 2024. Please note there will be no retroactive payments made associated with increased rates in the collective agreement for the timeframe between the September 1, 2023 contract expiry and the December 1, 2024 implementation date.
November 12, 2024
Tentative agreement reached
The university and PSAC – Graduate Students reached a four-year tentative agreement on Oct. 10, 2024. This agreement is subject to ratification by members of PSAC – Graduate Students, as well as approval from the Board of Governors.
The union ratification vote is scheduled for Nov. 22, 2024. Further details about the tentative agreement will be provided publicly after ratification/approval by the respective bodies.
Archive
October 28, 2020
The PSAC-Graduate Student membership has voted in favour of the parties’ tentative agreement. With this, and the Board’s recent approval, a new four-year collective agreement between PSAC and USask is now in place. Highlights of the new collective agreement include:
- Annual Hourly Wage Adjustments, currently $20.04 to
Year Current 2019 $20.24 2020 $20.85 2021 $21.48 2022 $22.12 - Revised appointments preference system (decreasing from a 5-level system to a 3-level system);
- Updated EDI language that acknowledges the University’s EDI Strategy and Action Plan and the parties’ commitment to achieving/maintaining a representative workforce;
- Posting requirements removed for Teaching Assistant appointments of 5 hours or less per appointment;
- Conditional flexibilities around hours-per-week restrictions in certain employment circumstances;
- Certain administrative requirements (e.g. identifying duties and time allocated to duties) removed for short-term/casual-like appointments.
Congratulations to the parties and our employees in successfully reaching this new collective agreement, which continues to provide employees with equitable and competitive employment terms and conditions.
October 8, 2020
The USask Board of Governors has approved the tentative agreement between PSAC-Graduate Students and USask. The tentative agreement still requires ratification by PSAC-Graduate Students members before implementation can occur. Ratification voting is taking place this month.
September 25, 2020
Agreement
The university and PSAC – Graduate Students have reached a 4-year tentative agreement today, which will be effective September 1, 2019, to August 31, 2023. This agreement is subject to members of PSAC – Graduate Students ratifying it through a vote, as well as approval from the Board of Governors. Further details about the tentative agreement will be provided publicly after ratification/approval by the respective bodies.
June 25, 2018
The collective agreement between the University of Saskatchewan and the Public Service Alliance of Canada, Local 40004, covering graduate student employees runs from April 23, 2015 through August 31, 2019.December 14, 2017
Bargaining
- Thecollective agreementbetween the University and PSAC was tentatively agreed to on Sept. 12, 2017. Members' ratification vote was held early October, and the members voted in favour of the agreement.
- The Board of Governors approved the collective agreement on the October 13th.
- Implementation planning and efforts have commenced; information sessions will be scheduled and delivered over the next 2-3 months.
October 24, 2017
Bargaining
- The university and PSAC Local 40004, representing graduate student employees, have both approved the recently negotiated tentative agreement.
- The collective agreement is effective April 23, 2015 – August 31, 2019
- Implementation of the first collective agreement is underway
- The highlights document and the unsigned Tentative Agreement are viewable under Employee Agreements
September 13, 2017
Agreement
The University and the Public Service Alliance of Canada representing graduate student employees have reached a tentative first collective agreement. The agreement is effective April 23, 2015 - August 31, 2019. The details of this agreement will be available pending union ratification and approval by the Board of Governors.
July 25, 2017
Bargaining
- At the request of the parties, the Minister of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety appointed a Labour Relations Officer to assist in the conciliation of a first collective agreement.
- Conciliation is scheduled to begin in September. The main outstanding issues include wages and appointments.
June 27, 2017
Bargaining
Negotiations were held on June 6 and 7. The University and PSAC(Grad Students) have decided to engage with the Ministry of Labour and Workplace Safety to provide mediation support to assist us in reaching an agreement.
May 30, 2017
Bargaining
- First contract negotiations are scheduled to continue on June 6-7.
- On-going consultation with academic leaders continues to be a priority as the university engages in this process.
April 18, 2017
Bargaining
The parties continue to make progress towards a first collective agreement. Negotiations are scheduled to continue on May 2-3.
March 21, 2017
Bargaining
Meeting dates are scheduled to take place March 21-22, 2017 and May 2-3, 2017.February 21, 2017
Bargaining
- PSAC and the university continue to make progress on outstanding non-monetary items and have exchanged initial monetary proposals.
- The parties are scheduled to continue negotiations, March 21-22, 2017.