Types of Work Performed by Graduate Students

Various Categorizations in Types of Work (Employment and Non-Employment) Performed by Graduate Students registered as full-time at York University

What is the difference between a:

Teaching Assistant (TA)*;
Graduate Assistant (GA)*;
Research Assistant (RA)^; and
Other research-related work that may be performed by a graduate student*

*Employment
^Non-employment

Classified as Unit 1 (CUPE 3903) bargaining unit work
Any work related to teaching, marking demonstrating, and/or tutoring performed by full-time graduate students registered at York
Has time restrictions (maximum 135 hours per term)
Health & vacation benefits per the York-CUPE 3903 Unit 1 Collective Agreement
Income is taxable as employment income

Classified as Unit 3 (CUPE 3903) bargaining unit work
Work performed by full-time graduate students registered at York who are receiving financial assistance from or through the University and in connection with such assistance are employed in administrative, clerical and research work
Has time restrictions (maximum 135 hours per term)
Health & vacation benefits per the York-CUPE 3903 Unit 3 Collective Agreement)
Income is taxable as employment income

Non-employment
Work performed by full-time graduate students registered at York who receive financial assistance from or through York for research and academic activities which are predominantly for the purposes of advancing the students’ progress towards fulfilment of their program and degree requirements
No set hourly wages or time limits
No health & vacation benefits (but as a full-time graduate student covered under YUGSA health plan)
Income is non-employment income and therefore non-taxable

Employment and non-unionized work
Research work that may be performed by a full-time graduate student registered at York and may also be performed by other employees qualified to perform the work (including part-time graduate students registered at York, or both students and non-students with no other affiliation with York)
The employee is a full-time graduate student, but the work is not in connection with the graduate student’s financial assistance from or through the University^
No set hourly wages or time limits
No health & vacation benefits

^ Where the work is performed by a full-time graduate student registered at York, and the work is in connection with the student’s financial assistance from or through the University, the work will necessarily be either a Graduate Assistantship or a Research Assistantship

Distinguishing between Categories of Work 2, 3 and 4 above

The basis of the distinctions between categories type 2, 3 and 4 above, is the language of Article 3.01 of the York-CUPE 3903 Unit 3 Collective Agreement which reads as follows:

The Employer recognizes the Union as the exclusive bargaining agent for all graduate students registered as full-time at York University who are receiving financial assistance from or through the University and in connection with such assistance are employed in administrative, clerical, and research work save and except supervisors, persons above the rank of supervisor, and per- sons for whom a trade union held bargaining rights at the date of

Clarity Note: For the purpose of clarity, graduate students registered as full-time at York University who receive financial assistance from or through York University for research or academic activities which are predominantly for the purposes of advancing the students’ progress towards fulfilment of their program and degree requirements are not in the bargaining unit.

It is very important to make correct distinctions between these three categories of work, as per the collective agreement language set out above, and the descriptions set out above, in order to ensure that the University is meeting its agreed-to legal obligation with CUPE 3903 Unit 3.