Unit 2 Bargaining Update # 1 - Negotiations for a better invigilator contract begin!

Negotiations for a new collective agreement for Invigilators are officially underway! Your bargaining committee had their first meeting with McGill’s negotiating team on Tuesday, February 9th, and are off to a strong start already. Several of your colleagues joined us on Monday for pre-bargaining coffee and donuts, and some of them even joined the bargaining team in the negotiations room for open-bargaining. 

Interested in joining in on future bargaining sessions? Let us know by filling out this form! The next bargaining session will be Friday, February 27 from 9:30am-12:30pm, as well as Monday March 9 and Monday March 27, both also 9:30am-12:30pm. Your presence in the room is a huge support to your bargaining committee, and demonstrates to McGill’s negotiators that we are united and determined to win! 

Monday’s meeting officially marks the beginning of negotiations to secure a stronger, fairer contract for invigilators across all departments.

At this first session, both parties tabled their proposals and reviewed each other’s priorities. This exchange set the foundation for the work ahead of us.

Our Top Priorities

AGSEM is committed to bargaining in the best interest of our membership. Our key demands include:

• An immediate raise to $26/hr and substantial yearly raises to betterreflect the value of the work invigilators do.
• A minimum invigilator-to-student ratio to improve coverage and prevent overwork among invigilators. 
• An end to mandatory hour input on Workday, while giving invigilators the chance to approve hours entered by the employer. 
• Requiring the employer to provide coffee/snacks to invigilators
• Not requiring invigilators to walk inside the bathroom with students
• Imposing a minimum number of shifts for each invigilator hired
• Better transparency in invigilator/circulator/float roles 
• Requiring McGill to provide paid hybrid training to invigilators
• Increasing union liberations to better enable the union to fight for invigilators

These priorities were determined by our members. Better pay, better coverage, better conditions: It’s not too much to ask!!

Key items in McGill’s non-monetary proposal include requiring invigilators to provide at least 48 hours’ notice if they are unable to work a scheduled shift.

While last-minute absences and no-shows can create additional stress for other invigilators, we believe the real solution is addressing the root causes. Fair wages and improved working conditions are the best way to reduce no-shows and increase reliability. 

McGill has also proposed language aimed at preventing overtime that is not pre-approved in writing by a supervisor. We are determined to fight McGill on this proposal and win contract language that does not restrict the ability of invigilators to work.

If you want to join the fight to win a great contract for you and your fellow workers, consider joining the bargaining team!! 

We’re seeking new members on the Bargaining Committee and Bargaining Support Committee to help us negotiate the terms of this new collective agreement. Elections will take place at the next Delegate’s Council on February 23. Read on for more information about the open positions, and RSVP for the Delegate’s Council if you’re interested in running–you can nominate yourself from the floor at the meeting!

Bargaining Committee Member

Bargaining Committee members negotiate with representatives from McGill to decide the terms of the new Collective Agreement. Preparation for negotiation sessions includes helping to prepare research and bargaining proposals.

The Bargaining Committee meets weekly to discuss strategy and contract language, and attends bargaining sessions with representatives from McGill on a regular basis. The Committee also meets with other parts of AGSEM and other unions to coordinate strategy and learn useful bargaining skills. Bargaining Committee Members help write agendas for unit assemblies.

Strong written and oral communication skills, a capacity for project management, attention to detail, knowledge of labour organizing, and familiarity with spreadsheets are all valuable skills to have in this position.

• Start date: February 24, with a one-week training/onboarding process 
• Time Commitment & Compensation: 5 hours/week at $27.67 per hour
• Must be a member of Unit 2 or have held a position in the unit within the last 12 months

Bargaining Support Committee Member

Bargaining Support Committee members help with various tasks including but not limited to coordinating open bargaining, doing research to assist in negotiations, and helping to develop communications about bargaining for the broader membership.

The Bargaining Support Committee meets every 2-3 weeks, and members must keep up to date with the state of negotiations. Strong written communication, data-driven research skills, knowledge of labour organizing, and a team-driven mindset are all assets in this role!

• Start date: February 24, with a one-week training/onboarding process 
• Compensation: $250 per term
• Hours vary week by week, usually 2-4 hours per week
• You do not have to be a Unit 2 member to join the Bargaining Support Committee

Interested in getting involved? Need more information? Please reach out to Sneha Senthil, the chair of the Bargaining Committee, at invigilator.bc1@agsem-aeedem.ca and let her know! 

Are you interested in getting involved in your union in other ways? We need invigilators to help us with union communication, mobilization, and outreach! Please fill out this form and let us know if you’re interested and someone from the union will get back to you ASAP :) 

Love and solidarity,  Your Bargaining and Bargaining Support Committee