This article was updated on April 1 at 3:55 p.m.
Undergrads are demanding action to end PSAC 901, Unit 1’s, strike as for an Open Letter sures 1,500 signatures.
In an Open Letter released on March 24, undergraduate students are calling on the University to resume negotiations with the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) 901, Unit 1, in hopes of ending the strike sooner than later. The letter, addressed to Principal Patrick Deane, Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) Matthew Evans, and the Board of Trustees, outlines undergraduate students’ concerns, polishing off their third week without graduate Teaching Assistants (TAs), Research Assistants, and Teaching Fellows (TFs).
In addition to bargaining, the letter asks Queen’s istration to assign Grade Deferred (GD) instead of Credit Received (CR) on transcripts for delayed marks, if delays in negotiations prevent classes from asg final grades.
‘CR’ is typically given to students with low grades on assignments due to extenuating circumstances, when many of us have been working all term to attain high grades in our courses,” the letter reads.
The letter also demands partial refunds of tuition dollars for each week of missed tutorials and that the University return to the bargaining table with a reasonable and fair offer to graduate students.
“Queen’s boasts about additional grants and opportunities to improve access to education, but ignores its student population receiving poverty wages, and screaming about food and housing insecurity,” the letter reads.
Eden Natovitch, ArtSci ’26 and author of the Open Letter, highlighted the importance of a collective voice in ing graduate student workers as the strike enters its third week, during an interview with The Journal.
She stressed how CR grading detriments students applying to graduate schools. While a CR doesn’t change a student’s cumulative grade point average (GPA), it prevents those hoping to boost their GPA this term from improving their grades.
In a Labour News update on March 26, the University reiterated its commitment to the academic mission and emphasized that no changes to the academic calendar will be happening, stating students will receive a grade or credits for all courses taken this semester.
The mobilization of students extends beyond just the Open Letter.
In a undergraduate Zoom strategy meeting on March 26, around 30 faculty , staff, undergraduate, and graduate students discussed ways to encourage the istration to return to the bargaining table.
Participants organized a protest outside of Robert Sutherland Hall ahead of the March 27 Senate meeting at 2:30 p.m. However, in an e-mail from the University Secretariat to Senate attendees, the meeting was moved online due to “concerns regarding the safety and security of attendees.”
The demonstration was moved to Richardson Hall with roughly 100 in attendance and various people speaking to the cause.
“We’ll be out here every day until we get a new contract. Come and us on the picket line,” PSAC 901 President Morrow said. He began a chant, yelling “The more they try to silence us, the louder we will be.”
Demonstrators pulled out a scroll full of names of undergraduate students who have signed the letter. The scroll was taped to the ground, stretched from the doors of Richardson down to where the sidewalk meets University Ave.
In a news release, the AMS announced a Special Assembly will take place on March 31 at 6 p.m. to discuss how the AMS can undergraduate students during the strike, with students able to share their perspectives and ask questions. The location will be announced on the AMS Governance Instagram in the coming days.
According to the news release, AMS President Owen Rocchi became aware of the Open Letter on March 26.
“Given that a meeting of the Senate, which has purview over academic matters at Queen’s was scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, President Rocchi sought the direction of the AMS Assembly via an e-vote on whether Assembly would like to direct the AMS to fully endorse the petition,” the release said.
Four student leaders voted in favour of ing the letter, 18 voted against, and 13 abstained. Whether the AMS shouldn’t take a stance was also asked, with 13 in favour, seven opposed, and 15 abstaining. Lastly, the vote asked if AMS Assembly should recognize the urgency of the matters affecting academic student life and direct Rocchi to call a Special Assembly on March 31, seeing 16 in favour, four opposed, and 15 abstaining.
Corrections
The initial March 27 AMS news release was edited on March 31 due to an error counting the original results. This story has since been updated with the correct votes.
A prior version of this story incorrectly stated the Zoom undergraduate strategy meeting was organized by of Queen’s Coalition Against Austerity.
The Journal regrets the error
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Undergraduate student mobilization
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