CREW Union is affiliated with the CSN, which is headquartered in Montreal. CSN stands for Confédération des syndicats nationaux (Confederation of National Trade Unions) – one of the largest trade union confederations in Canada, with more than 330,000 members.

Each of the CSN’s more than 1,600 member unions has full control over their own legal rights, bargaining priorities, finances, and more. At the same time, member unions are able to access a wide range of services and support to help achieve the goals decided upon by our members. It truly is the best of both worlds: local autonomy backed up by the power that comes from a democratic organization with hundreds of thousands of members.

Other unions affiliated with the CSN are already present at Concordia University. These include technicians (CUUSS-TS), professional employees (CUPEU), library workers (CULEU), and support staff (CUSSU) – meaning that we can utilize the strength of our numbers to win collective demands that benefit workers all around the university.

No! Our dues with CSN will not be more than what we currently pay with TRAC-PSAC. Once the changeover occurs we will have a General Assembly where we will vote on our new union dues. Individual members will pay union dues in the same way as before so there is no additional burden on you!

However, the way union dues are handled by the union will change. Currently, the PSAC collects dues money directly from Concordia and then redistributes them to us, often with a two or three months delay. With the CSN, our local would be responsible for the collection of union dues and then the transmission of our affiliation dues to the CSN. This would give our union greater financial autonomy and transparency.

Yes! Unionized workers have the right to switch affiliations. This process is legal and set out by the Quebec Labour Code. Your decision to sign a card is confidential, and the university is legally bound to remain neutral.

No.

Our campaign to join CREW-CSN does not jeopardize our rights and wages, which will continue to be guaranteed by the existing collective agreement until a new one is signed. CREW-CSN will be responsible for enforcing these protections and will represent all the same members as TRAC-PSAC.

Your grievance will be carried over to CSN’s legal team. No one will slip through the cracks! Once CREW begins to receive new grievances, we will be responsible for filing and managing them.

The timing is due to regulations set out in the Quebec Labour Code. Per section 22(d), we may only apply to the Labour Board for certification between the 90th and 60th days prior to the expiration of our current collective agreement.

The lead-up to bargaining is the best time for us to choose a better union to fight for a better deal.

All teaching and research assistants at Concordia belong to the same “bargaining unit” that is currently represented by TRAC-PSAC. Re-affiliation with a different union federation is a legal process with specific conditions that continue to protect workers during this transition period outlined in Section 61 of the Quebec Labour Code.

The law also means that TRAC’s current Collective Agreement with Concordia remains in effect until renegotiated, regardless of the outcome of our switch. The responsibility for handling both negotiations and existing grievances will be transferred to whichever union is certified – this should be CREW-CSN, because that’s the only way we can win the power to bargain for ourselves!

The obligation to pay “an amount of not less than $2” when signing is outlined in Section 36.1(c) of the Quebec Labour Code as a condition to be recognized as a member of an association applying for certification. If you do not pay the $2, your card will not be considered by the Labour Board. This amount has remained unchanged since the law was first introduced and simply remains ‘on the books’ to this day.

No.

At the end of this campaign, there will only be one union representing TAs and RAs at Concordia. With your help, it will be CREW-CSN – a stronger union that will win a better deal.

TRAC’s current Collective Agreement with Concordia will remain in effect until renegotiated by CREW-CSN. The responsibility for handling both negotiations and existing grievances will be transferred. This is guaranteed by Section 61 of the Quebec Labour Code.