Strike Mandate Vote Town Hall – Tuesday, February 11, 2025 at 12:05PM. Register now. Steelworkers – it’s time. Next week we will be launching a strike mandate vote. We need your help to show Queen’s we are serious about improving our working conditions during this round of bargaining!

Dear Steelworkers:

After bargaining this week with Queen’s, we continue to work diligently to secure a fair deal for our membership. We have not yet reached a tentative agreement that meets your needs, but we will maintain our resolve and negotiate with Queen’s for fair wage increases, job security as it relates to casual employees performing our bargaining unit work, and retroactive pay for Bill 124.

Next week, February 11 – 14, we will be calling on you to give us a strike mandate. A strong mandate will show the employer that we are united and serious about achieving a fair contract. More details on how to participate and when you can attend Q&A sessions to get all your questions answered will be shared soon.

A strike mandate vote is a vote by union members to authorize their bargaining team to call a strike if necessary. It does not mean a strike will happen immediately—it’s a way for the membership to show support for their bargaining team and increase pressure on the employer to negotiate a fair deal.

A strong strike mandate signals to the employer that members are willing to take action if negotiations fail. This strengthens the union’s position at the table and can lead to better offers without needing to strike. If members vote yes to a strike mandate, the bargaining team has the authority to call a strike if needed. If members vote no, the employer may take that as a sign that workers are not prepared to take action, which can weaken the union’s bargaining power. Your support is critical at this stage in the process.

In Solidarity,

USW 2010 Support Staff Bargaining Team