Queen’s and the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) reached a tentative first collective agreement on September 14, after two days of negotiations with the assistance of a provincial conciliation officer.

Negotiations for a first collective agreement between Queen’s OPSEU began in January, 2012. OPSEU represents 12 allied health professionals who work in the Queen’s Family Health Team.

“The University and OPSEU engaged in professional and respectful dialogue throughout the process. This facilitated their reaching an agreement acceptable to both parties, despite the challenging bargaining environment in Ontario at present,” says Al Orth, Associate Vice-Principal (Human Resources).

The tentative agreement was unanimously ratified by members of the OPSEU bargaining unit on September 16, and on the recommendation of the University’s bargaining committee, by the HR Committee of the university’s Board of Trustees on September 18.

The collective agreement will be posted on the university’s Human Resources website when it has been finalized by the parties.