Collective bargaining between Queen’s University and the United Steelworkers (USW) began in November 2011. On July 5, after several days of further negotiations with the assistance of a provincial conciliation officer, Queen’s University and the USW are pleased to announce that they have reached a tentative first collective agreement. The United Steelworkers represents approximately 1100 employees of Queen’s University, General Support Staff (Grades 2-9).

As is customary in this phase of the process, no details of the tentative agreement will be made public until the members of the bargaining unit have had an opportunity to review and vote on the agreement in a ratification vote.

The bargaining teams will be working diligently over the next several days to finalize relevant documents. Once that is completed the USW will announce the details of the ratification process, which will include membership meetings and a subsequent ratification vote.