Teaching Assistant Statement of Rights

Preamble

Teaching assistants play a vital role in the University. As teachers of undergraduate students they are an important adjunct to the instruction performed by faculty, and in some cases are exclusively in charge of a course. As teachers, TAs perform labour in which stipulated duties are exchanged for pay.

Universities assist some graduate students by offering scholarships which do not require the students to perform duties outside of the scholastic program determined by university regulations. By contrast, a teaching assistantship involves the performance of duties for the university in return for wages. Hence a teaching assistantship is not an academic award, it is a job in an academic institution.

As contributors to the university's teaching function, teaching assistants have certain rights. Teaching assistants also have responsibilities. These are based upon the right of undergraduate students to professional instruction and to fair and non-discriminatory treatment.

Teaching assistants' responsibilities are also tightly bound to their own rights. For example, TAs have a duty to provide competent instruction. But this cannot occur without proper training or in a class containing too many undergraduates.

Teaching assistants have the following fundamental rights:

1. Fair Hiring Procedure

All teaching assistantships must be publicly advertised, these advertisements should include conditions of work and rates of pay. Applicants are to be judged exclusively on qualifications for the position. They may not be discriminated against on the basis of age, creed, colour, national or ethnic origin, maternal language,political or religious beliefs or affiliations, citizenship or permanent resident status, race, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, income, family ties, handicaps or membership or non-membership in any organisations.

2. Training

The right to professional training in pedagogical methods and standards and in the scholarship unique to the discipline or sub-discipline being taught. This training is to be completed to a minimum level before or while classroom instruction is in the initial stages. This training should be considered paid work.

3. Wages

Wages should be commensurate with the responsibilities incumbent in the position and should reflect both the contribution to the university and the level of responsibility of the duties. Wages should be calculated on an hourly basis and should be paid for all the time a TA must spend on employment-related duties.

4. Job Security

Once hired, a teaching assistant has the right to hold a TA for the duration of his/her academic program.

5. Class Size

The right to be assigned to instruct a class of a size appropriate to its intended function and of such a size that all duties can be reasonably performed within the contracted paid hours.

6. Job Performance and Evaluation Process

The right to receive regular evaluations of job performance and the right of access to the TAs own employment file.

7. Separation of Employment and Academic Records

The right to have employment and academic records kept separate so that work performance as a teaching assistant may not be used to influence academic evaluations.

8. Grievance Procedures

The right to have disputes heard and judged according to a formalised and well-publicised procedure in which methods and consequences are clearly set out in advance.

9. Collective Bargaining

The right to be presented by an association or union of their choice, if they wish to organise collectively. Teaching assistants have the right to take action, including strike, to achieve a contract.

10. Working Conditions

The right to work in a safe and healthy place that is free from harassment due to age, creed, colour, national or ethnic origin, language, political or religious beliefs or affiliations, citizenship or permanent resident status, race, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, income, family ties, handicaps, or membership or non-membership in any organisation.

11. Right to Information

The right to be informed, at the commencement of their employment, of university and departmental policies regarding working conditions.

Approved by the Graduate Students' Committee Canadian Historical Association 2 June 1991