About AMUSE

The Association of McGill University Support Employees is a labour union that represents ‘casual’ or ‘temporary’ employees at McGill. This includes both students and non-students in part-time and full-time positions. In fact, around 35% of casual employees are non-students. In total, our approximately 1500-strong members make up about 55% of McGill’s non-academic employees.

AMUSE is a directly chartered local of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), one of the largest public sector unions in Canada. The PSAC provides council and legal support, strengthening AMUSE from the first steps of unionization, the signing of the first Collective Agreement and on to the everyday functions of an effective union.

The union was founded and is administered by casual employees at McGill. We ground our advocacy on the principles of shared humanity, respect, and fairness, within the specific goals of protecting and improving working conditions and labour rights.

The AMUSE union drive began in the Fall of 2008 with the intention to unionize work study employees. However, the movement grew to include non-student workers as part of the bargaining unit. The referendum held by the Quebec Labour Board began in October 2009 and 85% of casual workers voted in support of the union. AMUSE was accredited in January 2010.

Structure of the Union

AMUSE is governed on democratic principles, meaning that the membership is the highest governing body, acting through the Annual General Assembly. The Board of Representatives, Executive Committee, and Stewards work on a practical level to serve the best interest of the membership. The Board of Representatives, composed of the Executive Committee and Chief Stewards, holds the Executive Committee accountable and meets once every two months.