The bargaining team for the Syndicat des étudiant.es salarié.es de l’Université de Montréal (SÉSUM-PSAC) proudly announces the signature of two new collective agreements for student assistants and non-student technical assistants.
“We are very pleased with the major gains in these contracts, including combined salary increases of nearly 30% that are unheard of in the academic sector,” said Yvon Barrière, Regional Executive Vice-President of PSAC-Quebec.
Along with monetary gains, these collective agreements contain better protections against sexual harassment and violence, better access to domestic violence leave and improved hiring process.
“This agreement paves the way to tangible advances for our members, especially significant salary increases to offset inflation and increased hiring flexibility for the current labour shortage,” said Jonathan Michaud, who is on the SÉSUM-PSAC coordinating committee.
Highlights of the agreement include:
- a 5-year contract;
- a total combined salary rise (base rates + allowances) of 29% over 5 years, in 6 separate increases;
- addition of a definition of sexual harassment and the possibility of being accompanied by a union representative when making a complaint under the University’s policy to prevent and address sexual misconduct and violence;
- addition of contract clauses to ensure that members receive their pay within the prescribed time after contract signature;
- contracts of 35 hours or more (rather than 45 hours or more) must be posted;
- extension of deadline to file a grievance and acceleration of the arbitration process.
“As I’ve said, this agreement shows the determination of our members. Despite major changes within the organization, members’ solidarity did not waver. That allowed us to achieve the results we are announcing today,” Barrière added.