Meet Your ESE Bargaining Committee Candidates

I want to be part of the conversation as I’ve been a research assistant for 5 years at western. I also am I communication major so I know how to communicate effectively our demands.

Hello! My name is Paige and I’m running for the research assistant (RA) bargaining committee position. I’m a third year Geology/Marine and Coastal Sciences RA and a co-chair of WAWU’s events and action planning committee. I have had numerous negative experiences while working as a student employee at Western. I strongly believe that us student workers have a right to voice these experiences and change the policies (or lack of) that perpetuate them. As a member of the bargaining committee, I’m excited to connect with my fellow WAWU members and work diligently to get our voice heard at the bargaining table.

Part of my graduate thesis work has been to meet with government agencies representatives, peer scientists, community members, and other stakeholders to inform and discuss how to assess utility and value of compensatory restoration options in the U.S. Department of Interior’s Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration process. I feel comfortable researching, presenting, and negotiating new and innovative ideas that will support positive and collaborative working relationships and initiate impactful and rewarding changes for all parties involved.

Having been with WAWU from the very beginning, I’ve dedicated myself to the cause for almost two years. In this time, I’ve seen the challenges and hurdles student workers encounter, and it’s fueled my commitment to drive change. At WAWU, we know that real progress starts with all of us getting involved. It’s not about trying to win hearts and minds in a boardroom, but about showing our strength through unity and determination. When Western Admin sees all of us, student workers, standing strong and united, they’ll have to listen. They said they wouldn’t bargain unless we passed a law, so we did. We can do this. Together, we’ll push for a fairer, safer and more inclusive university for everyone. I firmly believe that true leadership isn’t about commanding attention, eloquence, or always having the right answers. It’s about empowering each other and building a platform for our collective voice. If elected to the bargaining committee, I won’t just be an advocate; I’ll be an organizer, and a conduit between the issues that matter most and our fight for improvement, both at the bargaining table and in every facet of our workplace. Regardless of whether I’m elected or not, I’ll be treating solidarity like a verb, and working to make Western a more just, equitable, and livable place. It’s time for a new era of student activism, where every student worker has a say and a stake in our collective future. Join me in this movement for a materially just university. Together, we’ll make sure our voices are not just heard, but acted upon.

I’m running for BC so that undergrad TAs are represented and have their voices heard. The Physics department is in a unique position in that there is no graduate program so all of the labs are taught by undergraduate students. We need better pay and more training.

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