University, nurses approve first agreement

Queen’s University and the Ontario Nurses Association (ONA) have both ratified a first, four-year deal for the nurses in the Queen’s Family Health Team.

A tentative agreement was reached earlier this month through conciliation.

This is the second group of university employees to reach a collective agreement with the university within the last six weeks. Queen’s and the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) concluded a first, three-year deal for graduate Teaching Assistants (TAs) and Teaching Fellows (TFs) last month.

“This first collective agreement with ONA reflects the university’s respect for the important role nurses play in providing quality health care to the patients of the Family Health Team, balanced with the university’s fiscal realities,” says Principal Daniel Woolf.

The agreement was ratified with 100 per cent acceptance by the ONA members.

“I particularly want to recognize the agreed-upon changes to the Queen’s Pension Plan that will help us ensure the plan’s long-term sustainability,” says Al Orth, Associate Vice-Principal (Human Resources).

The agreement includes:

• A 1.25% lump sum payment for the period April 1, 2010 to March 31, 2011;

• Wage increases of 1.25% on April 1, 2011, 1.75% on April 1, 2012 and 1.75 on April 1, 2013;

• Employee contribution rates to the Queen’s Pension Plan will increase as follows:

Effective Date        Up to the CPP yearly max. pensionable earnings        Above the CPP yearly max.

Current Rates                              4.5%                                                                    6.0%

Jan. 1/12                                     5.0%                                                                    6.6%

July 1/12                                     5.5%                                                                    7.2%

Jan. 1/13                                     6.0%                                                                    7.8%

July 1/13                                     6.5%                                                                    8.4%

Jan. 1/14                                     7.0%                                                                    9.0%
 

These increases align with the province’s solvency relief package, which seeks a more equitable cost-sharing arrangement. To date the university's contribution is more than double employee contributions and the new rates close that gap slightly. 

The agreement expires on March 31, 2014.

For all labour relations-related news, visit www.queensu.ca/labournews, a new website that includes the latest information and answers to frequently asked questions.