The work of PSAC 901 Unit 1 bargaining unit members is highly respected and the University remains committed to reaching an agreement that both parties can ratify.
Queen’s presented the PSAC bargaining unit with a comprehensive offer on Sunday, March 9, prior to the strike deadline. This offer includes annual across-the-board increases of 3% / 2.25% / 2.25% which align with recently ratified settlements at Queen's. As of May 1, 2026, the hourly wage rate would be $50.00; expressed as a stipend for Teaching Fellows, it is $9,924. These increases include a market adjustment of 12.86%, effective May 1, 2025, which would bring the wages for part-time graduate student workers at Queen’s in line with wages paid at comparator U6 research intensive universities in Ontario. More information on the full offer can be found on Labour News.
We are disappointed that the union chose not respond to Queen’s comprehensive and competitive offer and instead elected to strike. The University remains open to continuing to bargain in good faith and our objective is to achieve a negotiated tentative agreement to renew the Collective Agreement, that both parties can ratify.
PSAC and its Local 901 represent approximately 2,000 graduate students who are employed part-time as Graduate Teaching Assistants, Teaching Fellows, Graduate Research Assistants, and JD/MD-enrolled students employed as Teaching Assistants at Queen’s.