USW and U of T reach tentative agreement

The University of Toronto and United Steelworkers 1998 (Casual unit) reached a tentative agreement for a renewal collective agreement on Nov. 2.

The USW unit represents about 3,000 casual administrative and technical employees at U of T at any given time; over the course of 2016, approximately 8,000 people were represented by the unit. 

Details of the agreement will be presented to the membership at information meetings on November 9 on all three campuses. A ratification vote will be held on November 13, with voting locations to be announced in the coming days. 

“We encourage all casual employees who are USW members to attend the information meetings and to vote,” Kelly Hannah-Moffat, U of T's vice-president of human resources and equity said. “I would like to thank the university and union bargaining teams for their commitment and hard work.” 

Earlier this year, the University and USW 1998 (Appointed) signed a new collective agreement. That three-year agreement, which was ratified on September 11, saw improvements to wages and working conditions.

The university has 23 collective agreements with 11 different unions; 13 agreements are up for renewal in 2017.