October 31 marks the deadline for the BC Labour Relations Board (LRB) to issue their decision on UBC Graduate Research Assistants’ (GRAs) right to unionize with CUPE 2278.
CUPE 2278 is a UBC-centric branch of the Canadian Union of Public Employees. In April 2023, it applied to the LRB to unionize around 3,200 UBC GRAs, marking the largest unionization certification British Columbia had seen in decades.
As per LRB rules, CUPE 2278 unionization was set to have been automatic since the union collected support from over 55 per cent of its employees. However, UBC triggered a hearing process by issuing several challenges to the application, most notably arguing that GRAs are students, not workers, and are therefore unfit to unionize under BC’s labour code.
According to CUPE 2278’s website, the LRB heard both UBC and CUPE’s cases throughout 2023 and determined it would issue a decision by April 30, 2024. That date was later extended to October 31.
Kristina (Tina) Rothchild, a UBC PhD candidate in chemistry and member organizer with CUPE 2278, told The Ubyssey in a statement GRA motivations for unionization stem from experiences of financial stress and an overall lack of support.
“In talking to other GRAs, I have learned that … the vast majority of us are struggling with the basic costs of day-to-day life, like paying rent and buying groceries,” Rothchild wrote. “I have also heard from GRAs who have experienced harassment and bullying in the workplace, including from their own supervisors, with no avenue to turn to for support.”
These quality of life concerns have been repeatedly iterated by union organizers over the years.
- Research assistants, student academic workers launch unionization campaign
- How a grassroot movement may unionize graduate research assistants
- CUPE 2278 organizers have cited poor working conditions — like inequitable wages and a culture of overworking — as a driving force for organizing.
In a statement to The Ubyssey, Alyssa Ash, a UBC alumni with a PhD in neuroscience and a member organizer with CUPE, said she hopes the LRB will rule in favour of research workers, especially given there is already precedent for unions representing academic workers.
“Many other large Canadian universities have graduate research assistant unions, including at University of Toronto, University of Calgary, and University of Alberta,” said Ash. “There is no doubt that academic research is work, but it boils down to the semantics around how our employer, UBC, is trying to define work.”
Ash also said if the LRB rules in favour of UBC and denies GRAs the right to unionize, CUPE would analyze its options and potentially seek to appeal the decision. However, CUPE has “a lot of optimism for a favourable outcome.”
Regardless of tomorrow’s decision, Rothchild said the current system is unsustainable.
“PhD Candidates are instrumental in driving research and innovation, and our labour is being exploited,” they wrote.
“Whatever happens … research is work that financially benefits this university, and I will continue to do whatever I can to ensure that GRAs get paid a fair wage and are treated fairly.”
UBC denied The Ubyssey’s request for comment.
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