PSAC Local 610
University of Western Ontario
1313 Somerville House
London, ON N6A 3K7
General Inquiries:
519.661.4137 (p)
519.850.2998 (f)
psac610@psac610.ca
Summer Office Hours:
Tuesday- Friday: 9am - 2pm
View complete PSAC610 Personnel Contact Information Here.
Become a member in good standing simply by signing your blue union card every academic year. You must sign your union card in order to be eligible for union benefits, vote, etc. The blue union cards are available in the office.
Become a steward and/or join a committee!
Members are still needed to sit on the Local's Negotiating Committee, especially from the Arts & Humanities and Biological and Physical Sciences. If you are interested in joining the committee, but would like to learn more about it before getting involved, I'm happy to meet over a coffee or pint at the Grad Club to discuss the work of the committee in greater detail.
Members of the Local's Negotiating Committee are gearing up to reach out and talk to members about the issues and concerns they would like the union to address through our next round of bargaining for a new collective agreement. By talking to members and by learning what issues are important to you, the Local can prioritize what demands it will bring to the bargaining table.
The Local has built a tradition of gathering members together on a departmental basis to meet with their stewards, to learn about the union, to talk about work-related issues in a relaxed atmosphere, and to build a sense of solidarity amongst members. The socials are normally held at the Grad Club or the Wave and the Local provides $20 per member to cover the costs of food and drinks that are provided. Gatherings of this type are a long held custom of unions across North America.
Although many TAs and graduate students have heard of the university's supposed "10 hour rule" regulating employment hours, the actual rules and regulations about graduate student employment are often a source of confusion and concern. Many believe that the "10 hour rule" is the maximum number of hours a graduate student may work in all forms of paid employment per week, on average. However, this is not the case.
Each year the Local provides 24 scholarships to members who demonstrate outstanding achievement in their academic performance ($500), research contribution ($400), or their dedication to community involvement ($400). The scholarships are equitably awarded across all divisions and between both Masters and Doctoral students.
A significant portion of our members are also members of the University of Western Ontario Society of Graduate Students.