After a day-and-a-half of meetings with the provincial mediator, the university and the union representing teaching assistants have reached a tentative contract agreement.

CUPE local 3906, unit 1, represents 2700 graduate and undergraduate teaching assistants. Negotiations began this past spring and the union was in a legal strike position as of Monday, November 25.

“Our discussions at the bargaining table were very productive and we are pleased that we were able to reach a tentative agreement well in advance of the strike deadline,” said Doug Welch, chair of McMaster’s bargaining committee.

The agreement now has to be ratified by both parties. CUPE will be contacting its members with the details for its vote. The university’s ratification motion will now go to the McMaster Board of Governors.