Bargaining Community Update: GSA
13 January 2026
Key points:
- PSAC (acting as agent for GSA) has withdrawn its unfair labour practice complaint filed last fall and has provided notice to negotiate an essential services agreement.
- The university welcomes this move and remains ready to resume negotiations and reach a deal with the Graduate Students’ Association.
- PSAC has not responded to the university’s proposed meeting dates to negotiate the renewal collective agreement.
As noted in a previous update to the community, the university and the Public Service Alliance of Canada (acting as an agent for the Graduate Students’ Association) have been negotiating a renewal collective agreement since December 2024. PSAC declared an impasse on July 8 and later filed an unfair labour practice complaint against the university.
PSAC has now withdrawn the unfair labour practice complaint filed last fall and has provided notice to the university to negotiate an essential services agreement (ESA).
Deal is possible
The university welcomes this move and remains ready to resume negotiations and reach a deal with the GSA. PSAC, however, has not responded to the university’s proposed bargaining meeting dates provided several weeks ago. ESA and collective agreement negotiations may occur concurrently but separately from each other. The university maintains that:
- PSAC’s actions are delaying a deal for the GSA.
- An ESA is not required to reach a negotiated renewal agreement, however the university will bargain an ESA in good faith.
- The parties are close to a negotiated renewal agreement and the university prefers to continue discussions at the bargaining table.
Updates will continue to be provided to the university community on the U of A Bargaining pages.