PSAC is proud to welcome 120 research associates, professional research associates, professional associates and research scientists employed at the University of Saskatchewan. Together, their work makes a vital contribution to the academic output of the university.

After an organizing drive that began in fall 2018, the Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board certified PSAC as their bargaining agent on April 14, 2020 following a vote by secret ballot which confirmed strong majority support for unionizing.

The senior researchers will be a part of the existing PSAC Directly Chartered Local 40004, which includes 1,200 graduate student workers and postdoctoral fellows at the University of Saskatchewan.

According to Joanne Ernest, President of PSAC Local 40004, “Unionizing these senior researchers is the first step to addressing the issues of precarious employment, intellectual property rights and respect and inequality across the university for this group of employees.”

Ernest says the next steps for the union include developing concrete bargaining proposals, electing a bargaining committee and sending a notice to bargain to the University of Saskatchewan to negotiate a first collective agreement.

This victory builds on PSAC’s long history of organizing Canada’s universities and now counts over 27,000 members from this sector in its ranks.