Workers Set Strike Deadline at Queen’s University

KINGSTON, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Five groups of workers at Queen’s University today put their employer on notice of a strike deadline after talks failed to provide an agreement that addresses concerns including the cost-of-living crisis, understaffing and job stability.

The workers are members of five bargaining units in CUPE locals 229, 254 and 1302 – approximately 1000 workers including foodservices, library workers, tradespeople, classroom and laboratory technicians, and custodians and caretakers. Today all five units filed with the Ontario Labour Relations Board, which makes job action possible as of Monday, February 3.

“It’s frustrating that it has come to this – we have been waiting for Aramark to bargain a solution to the cost-of-living and staffing crisis at the university since April,” said James Adams-Moore, a prep cook and vice-president of CUPE 229. “My co-workers are taking second jobs just to scrape by on what Aramark foodservices pay at Queen’s. It’s stressful. It negatively affects the workplace, but also home life. It takes away time that should be spent with our kids on homework or, heaven forbid, enjoying life a little.”

Waged workers at the university have seen their pay drop 11-15 percent below inflation in recent years. At the same time, senior university administrators and others making more than $100,000 a year took home an average of 8.9 percent more last year alone.

Thus far, the university’s wage offers to its CUPE workers have been far short of what’s needed to address the decline in real wages. Aramark, which is contracted by Queen’s to run food and conference services, has yet to make a wage offer.

“There’s a real imbalance. It’s hard to attract and retain qualified people, and that’s only adding to a workload problem seen across many departments. Something’s wrong here. The workers know it, the students are picking up on it. It’s time for the administration to do the right thing,” said Kim Bell, a special collections coordinator and president of CUPE 1302, representing library technicians at the university.

All three CUPE locals are members of the Unity Council of labour groups at Queen’s, which includes members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and United Steelworkers (USW), who are also currently in bargaining with the university. The almost 5000 workers represented by the unions are calling on the university and Aramark to negotiate real solutions to improve the workplace, services for students and the lives of its workers.