Follow us on: Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter! During the past few days, AGSEM has on several occasions expressed its concerns with McGill’s administration about it’s willingness to resume in-person teaching activities on January 24th, 2022. Once again, we ask the university to remain vigilant and maintain online teaching where possible until sanitary conditions improve.
Right to refuse unsafe work
As stated in article 15.02.05 of the TA Collective Agreement, you have the right to refuse unsafe work.
“An Employee has the right to refuse to perform a task if the Employee has reasonable grounds to believe that the performance of the task would endanger the Employee’s health, safety or physical well-being, or would expose another person to a similar danger (...)”
If you are currently called to perform your TA duties in person by your course instructor and/or your Department, and you do not feel safe following their instructions, please contact us directly at grievance.1@agsem-aeedem.ca.
AGSEM demands sent to McGill higher administration on December 22, 2021 due to the increase in COVID-19 cases
Dear Professor Manfredi,
In follow up to the letter that was sent to you on June 21, 2021, we would like to reiterate some of our requests based on the current sanitary condition in the province of Quebec.
After fluctuating for almost two years now, COVID-19 cases are again rising in Quebec and all over the world. Since McGill is already prepared to deliver most classes remotely, AGSEM would like to request , once again, that you opt for a precautionary approach by moving teaching activities to the fully or partially remote mode of delivery in Winter 2022.
Furthermore, for the safety of our members and the whole McGill community, Teaching Assistants should be given a choice to perform their tasks remotely if they feel safer doing so, whenever possible. We understand that the organizing of remote teaching activities can be challenging for many of us. Nevertheless, constantly moving–or fearing of moving–between different learning environments is even more challenging. This is especially the case given that many of our members already experience discomfort and anxiety in response to the high risk of COVID-19 contagion.
On behalf of AGSEM, once again, I request that you take those demands into serious consideration when any decisions are made in regards to in-person activities in the upcoming semester of Winter 2022.
Mario Roy
AGSEM President
Sign up for your booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine
As of January 17, everybody aged 18 and older can book an appointment for a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine in Quebec.
Current schedule for the third dose appointment booking is available here.
We encourage all eligible members of AGSEM to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
For more information, visit Quebec’s COVID-19 official website.
If you have any questions, concerns, or comments, please contact us at mail@agsem-aeedem.ca.
In Solidarity,
Your Executive, Bargaining, and Unionization Drive Committees
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