Following a return to the bargaining table, graduate student workers, represented by the Public Service Alliance Canada (PSAC) 901, and Queen’s University have reached a tentative agreement.
The University announced the agreement on their Labour News page on April 16, following a return to the bargaining table on April 11. While the two sides have come to a preliminary deal, the strike will continue until the agreement is ratified by both parties.
READ MORE: University, grad student workers return to bargaining table as strike enters sixth week
PSAC 901, Unit 1, represents approximately 2,000 graduate students employed as Teaching Assistants, Teaching Fellows, and Graduate Research Assistants. At the core of the union’s demands are wage increases amid rising costs of living in Kingston. After filing a No Board Report on Feb. 21, PSAC 901 elected to strike on March 10.
READ MORE: 2,000 graduate student workers walk off the job
On March 9, the University offered the union a three-year Collective Agreement with annual wage increases of three percent in the first year, and of 2.25 per cent in 2025 and 2026. It’s unclear how closely the April 16 offer aligns with those , as the details of the agreement are currently confidential.
“Queen’s values the contributions of its employees and respects the collective bargaining process. Details of the agreement will remain confidential pending ratification by the parties,” the University said in the release.
Union voted online and in person on April 17 on whether to ratify the agreement. If both PSAC 901 and the University approve the deal, the strike will end, and a new Collective Agreement will take effect. As of now, the University hasn’t provided a timeline for when ratification might occur.
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