Update on Operational Student Employee Discussions

Dear Western Students, Faculty, and Staff,

As many of you may be aware, a number of our Operational Student Employees (OSEs) have been engaged in a work stoppage since last week. As of this morning, they have paused their work stoppage in order to continue discussions, which I appreciate. I’ve met regularly with OSE representatives over the past year, including today, and we will be working with them over the next few days to discuss ways to address their requests and concerns.

The university and our student employees share the goal of ensuring that Western is a safe, fair, and supportive place to work and learn. We continue to support legislation that would authorize formal collective bargaining for OSEs.

I do want to address a misconception that has emerged over the past week — that student employees are not protected from harassment or discrimination unless they are part of a collective bargaining unit. This is simply not true. Please know that every person who works or studies on our campus is fully protected by state and federal civil rights laws, including Title IX, and has equal access to Western’s complaint processes and to the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance.

I want to reiterate that the university supports all student employees and respects their legal right to seek collective bargaining through the appropriate legislative process. We value our student employees’ contributions and the important role they play in our academic community. I appreciate the thoughtful engagement of OSEs advocating for change and remain committed to a university environment that is respectful, compassionate, and equitable for all members of our community.

Sincerely,
Sabah Randhawa