Have a Problem?
If you have questions about your workplace rights as a Teaching Assistant or Invigilator and/or wish to file a grievance, please fill in the relevant form below, and your Grievance Officer will reply within 2 business days. All inquiries are kept strictly confidential and you will never be pressured to pursue a grievance if you decide not to.
Invigilator Grievance
Grievance FAQ
The TA and Invigilator Collective Agreements are available on the Teaching Assistant and Invigilator Pages (See Article 8 for grievance procedure).
We approach workplace problems with a cooperative spirit and commitment to problem solving. We use this approach to ensure the rights of our members at all levels.
What is a grievance?
A grievance is an official complaint about a difference that arises between the University and the Union, an employee, or a group of employees out of the interpretation or application of a Collective Agreement. It is the duty of Union representatives, usually Grievance Officers and/or departmental Delegates, to assist employees in preparing and presenting a grievance.
Will the Union ever file a grievance on my behalf?
No, never without your permission. A meeting or an email to discuss an issue does not mean that a grievance will be filed. AGSEM will never file a grievance on behalf of any TA or Invigilator if they do not wish do so. Therefore, the members are encouraged to contact us to ask questions and get all the information they need before deciding whether to proceed with their complaint.
What are the steps of a grievance?
1. The Complaint Stage (optional)
This is an informal problem‐solving process. A meeting is set up with the TA/Invigilator and their course instructor and/or the department chair. We recommend a union representative familiar with the Collective Agreement be present at such meetings. The Grievance Officer, with the permission of the member, will act on behalf of the member for all official purposes and will keep the member updated on the status of their complaint.
2. Filing the Grievance
The deadline to file an official grievance is 30 calendar days following the knowledge of the occurrence. Knowledge of occurrence could be notification of your TA application or any email communications. The grievance will be filed, on behalf the member, with the respective hiring unit (department) or, in the case of broad‐based serious grievances, the university’s human resources department. If the grievance is filed with the hiring unit, a copy is also sent to Human Resources. The hiring unit has 30 days to respond, and HR can have an additional 15 days. Note: According to the university’s policies, deadlines for filing grievances about harassment in the workplace are different, and we recommend members get in touch with the union as soon as possible.
3. Arbitration
If the hiring unit fails to respond or the response is unsatisfactory, the union can submit the case to Human Resources within 15 days and Human Resources has another 15 days to respond. If the response from Human Resources is unsatisfactory and if the member wishes to pursue the grievance, the Union must file for arbitration to McGill within 90 days. The decision of the arbitrator is binding for both the Union and McGill.
Will anything happen with my grievance without my knowledge?
No. As an AGSEM member, you have the right to attend all grievance hearings at any step.
Likewise, you are entitled to be accompanied by a Union representative (their Delegate, and/or
the Grievance Officer) to any grievance or discipline‐related meeting.