Queen’s University graduate TA’s on strike

Queen's University in Kingston, Ont., on Sept. 3, 2015. (THE CANADIAN PRESS IMAGES/Lars Hagberg)

Graduate teaching assistants at Queen’s University walked off the job Monday after the school’s administration and union failed to reach agreement over the weekend.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) Local 901 represents about 2,000 graduate students who are employed as part-time teaching assistants, fellows and research assistants.

The union says in a news release that it did not agree with the university’s proposals on wages and mental health support. The union had been seeking increases in pay, childcare support and other protections in the collective agreement.

The collective agreement for the workers expired in April 2024 and negotiations began in November 2024.

“Without an enshrined funding/labour model, the employer is attempting to force Graduate Student Workers to stay at half the annual minimum wage, and we cannot accept it,” the union said.

“Our funding packages have been stagnant for decades and it’s time we fought for more.”

The university says it has contingency plans in place for the strike and has implemented measures to ensure classes and other academic activities continue.

“All students can continue their studies, including attending classes. Anyone travelling to campus should give themselves extra time in case of delays due to potential picket lines,” the university said in an email to students and faculty.

Queen’s had also been in negotiations with the United Steelworks Local 2010, who represents about 1,200 general support staff at the school. The school says both sides came to an agreement over the weekend.