Who We Are: Local 2010 at Queen’s University

USW Local 2010 is the Union representing over 1,600 members — Academic Assistants, Residence Dons and Support Staff — at Queen’s University. Our members are integral to the smooth functioning of the university, working in various administrative, technical, academic, supportive, and clerical roles across the institution. From assisting faculty and students, to maintaining essential university services, our members are the backbone of crucial daily operations at Queen’s.

Unity and strength for workers

The United Steelworkers union (USW) is the largest private-sector union in North America, with more than 225,000 members in Canada, and 850,000 members in North America in nearly every economic sector.

Strength in Solidarity at Local 2010

USW Local 2010 Support Staff members recently demonstrated the power of solidarity during a tough round of bargaining that led to a strong new three-year Collective Agreement (January 1, 2025 – December 31, 2027). Ratified by members in March 2025, the deal delivered gains in wages, job security, workload protections, and union rights. Despite an aggressive Employer stance and threats to release a final offer publicly, the Union stood firm, defending the right to grieve workload issues and winning key improvements for term appointments, redeployment options, and job security. The agreement updated the USW Salary Grid to reflect market rates and provided across-the-board (ATB) wage increases not often seen in the sector, and certainly not at Queen’s, for support staff workers. These victories didn’t happen by accident. They were made possible by months of organizing, strategic outreach tailored to the unique challenges of our sector, and the overwhelming support of the membership, which conveyed a powerful statement that USW 2010 members are united, mobilized, and committed to fair working conditions. Solidarity works.