MONTRÉAL, Oct. 25, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - Today, the Association of McGill University Support Employees (AMURE) and the Public Service Alliance of Canada, Quebec Region (PSAC-Quebec) published an open letter to the Principal of McGill University regarding the treatment of research employees at McGill.
"The working conditions of research employees needs to be improved. Research assistants are mostly women and are paid 30% less than equivalent male positions at McGill, according to McGill's own pay equity data," stated Sean Cory, AMURE President.
According to the Pay Equity Act, McGill must pay it's researchers, who are mostly women, the same wage as positions held mostly by men. According to McGill's own pay equity audit, positions held by mostly men earn 30% more than Research assistants.
In addition, the union has complained of misuse of positions classified as "Casual". Casual positions at McGill have no benefits and are paid far less than regular full time positions. In an evaluation of casual positions, the union found that 85% of long-term casual employees are either women or visible minorities. "We believe that treatment of casual employees is in violation of the Equal Access to Employment in Public Bodies act" indicated Mr. Cory.
Finally, the union has brought up other issues, such as the non-renewal of contracts of pregnant employees and the termination of employees while on long-term disability. "We have seen a disturbing trend at McGill where a pregnant employee and several employees on long term disability have had their employment terminated and have been replaced by outside employees", added Mr Cory.
AMURE suggests that anyone donating money to research at McGill contact McGill and insist that employees hired to perform research at McGill are treated with respect with fair wages and working conditions.
AMURE Profile
AMURE is a PSAC-Quebec local representing annually close to 1,500 research assistants, research associates and Postdocs at McGill University.
PSAC Profile in Quebec
PSAC represents more than 180,000 members across Canada. An FTQ affiliate, PSAC-Quebec has more than 40,000 members in the federal public sector, Quebec universities and the private sector.
SOURCE Alliance de la Fonction publique du Canada, région du Québec
For further information: Sean Cory, AMURE president, 514- 226-1719
Share this article