Postdoctoral Scholars at Queen’s University Call for Access to Essential Healthcare Services 

Kingston, ON – October 15 – Postdoctoral Scholars at Queen’s University are facing ongoing barriers to essential healthcare services on campus, despite persistent lobbying efforts to loosen access restrictions. Represented by their union, the Public Service Alliance of Canada Local 901, Postdocs have been negotiating with the university for over a year to address this pressing issue. 

Currently, Student Wellness Services (SWS) are available exclusively to undergraduate and graduate students, a population of nearly 30,000, while around 200 Postdoctoral Scholars are denied access. The union has proposed extending these services to include Postdocs, which would represent a minimal shift of less than 1% in the current service mandate. The well-being of Postdocs could be significantly enhanced by this relatively small change. Because many Postdocs work remotely in laboratories or institutions across Canada, it is anticipated that fewer than 200 will use SWS at the university.  

The consequences of limited access to healthcare are evident in the individual stories shared by Postdocs.

This lack of access not only affects the well-being of these scholars but also has a profound impact on the quality of research conducted at Queen’s. 

 Inadequate health services serve as a major distraction, hindering Postdocs’ ability to complete their research within the one- to two-year timeframe outlined in their contracts and potentially diminishing the quality of teaching and learning at the university. 

Postdoctoral Scholars are vital contributors to Queen’s academic community, often relocating their families and lives to embark on their careers at the university. Despite holding the highest degrees, they feel undervalued and underappreciated, as the university has consistently refused to implement this essential change. 

PSAC 901 urges Queen’s University to recognize the importance of supporting its Postdoctoral Scholars by expanding access to healthcare services.  
 

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