More than 2,000 teaching and research assistants at Concordia University in Montreal have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a strike mandate, raising concerns about potential disruptions during the critical end-of-term period.
The Concordia Research and Education Workers Union (CREW-CSN) announced Saturday that 95% of its members supported the mandate, which could lead to an unlimited general strike if negotiations with the university stall. The job action could impact more than 3,000 tutorials, conferences, and laboratory sessions.
Union representatives say the key issues at the bargaining table include wages and job security, particularly for graduate students, who make up the majority of the membership.
“With rising tuition fees and the increased cost of living, this is the worst time to be a student in Concordia’s history,” said Ria Mayer, a bargaining committee member and graduate philosophy student. “Improving working conditions for TAs and RAs not only lets us live in dignity—it also makes higher education more accessible.”
CREW-CSN argues that precarious employment conditions for teaching assistants directly affect students, as TAs often have more direct contact with students than professors.
The strike mandate comes after a year of negotiations, with the union saying Concordia has not met its demands for a viable salary structure and stable employment.
“CREW members didn’t take this vote lightly, but their employer left them no choice but to step up the pressure,” said Dominique Daigneault, president of the Conseil central du Montréal métropolitain (CCMM–CSN).
While no strike date has been set, union leaders say job action could begin if talks reach an impasse.
