In a member-only Special General Meeting held on Sept. 25, The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) 901, Unit 1 successfully reached a consensus on the key issues under negotiation. PSAC 901 President Jake Morrow said the priorities and issues are aligning with what’s been negotiated for at the Unit 2 level, in an interview with The Journal.
Morrow says the University isn’t prepared to enter into the collective agreement and isn’t ready to “fight,” stating the push for their demands will continue until they’re met, as Master’s and graduate students are facing “tremendous” housing and food insecurity.
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Unit 1, which represents graduate student workers, saw their contract expire on April 30 and has yet to receive any communication about starting their bargaining negotiations with the University.
“They’re [graduate students] having a hard time affording the basics of life and are ready to push the employer [Queen’s University] for what is needed to be able to afford a living in Kingston. We’re going to be pushing the employer on things like funding packages,” Morrow said in an interview with The Journal.
Morrow emphasizes their advocacy is for workers who need a livable wage, stating PSAC 901 is committed to fighting for them. He points out that while a person working a full-time job at minimum wage in Ontario might earn around $36,000 a year, many of their earn less than half of that amount.
“Our are making clear that it isn’t fair, and we’ve been working to build solidarity with other on campus to ensure that our win that contract which is going to be historic,” Morrow said.
Negotiations with Unit 1 have not yet started. In a statement sent to The Journal concerning Unit 2 negotiations, Queen’s emphasized they’re trying to look at the bargaining holistically by considering different perspectives and priorities.
According to the University, the Minister of Labour has appointed a conciliation officer to assist the union and employer in finalizing a collective agreement. This is a standard part of the collective bargaining process under the Labour Relations Act of 1995 and has previously helped achieve successful agreements.
“The University istration respects the collective bargaining process and is committed to bargaining in good faith to reach an agreement that is fair to our employees, fiscally responsible to the university and capable of being ratified by both parties,” Queen’s wrote in a statement to The Journal.
The University declined to comment on the ongoing negotiations until an agreement is formally made.
“Out of respect to the process, it would be inappropriate to discuss the details of specific issues that may or may not be agreed to by the parties at the bargaining table. Once we reach a tentative agreement, the details will remain confidential until the deal is ratified successfully by both parties,” Queen’s said.
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