For the first time at the University of Toronto (U of T), five units of CUPE locals 3902 and 3261 sat side-by-side at the bargaining table.

The unions reached tentative agreements with the university administration, minutes before they were in a legal position to strike.

The CUPE 3902 and 3261 joint bargaining team secured historic pay, benefits and working conditions gains for more than 8,000 workers. CUPE 3902 Unit 5, which represents postdoctoral fellows, won an immediate salary bump to $50,000 for anyone earning less than that and a 12.8% increase over three years for all members.

CUPE 1230, which represents over 400 U of T library workers, continues negotiations with the administration.