The newly elected president of PSAC 901, Ikeoluwapo Baruwa, is looking ahead to continuously supporting graduate students at Queen’s.
Baruwa began his term on May 1, following several turbulent months of strikes. PSAC 901 represents approximately 2,000 members, including Graduate Teaching Assistants, Teaching Fellows, Graduate Research Assistants, and Postdoctoral Officers.
In an interview with The Journal, Baruwa outlined how his previous experiences within the Union shaped what he wants to accomplish during his term, including strengthening the relationship between the union and its members and ensuring every member feels supported.
“The executives at PSAC 901, when I started my study at Queen’s, were very approachable for me,” Baruwa said. “As an international student, it was very difficult at times. But the executive members made it so lively for me and let me share my concerns as a graduate student.”
As president, Baruwa serves as the “chief executive officer” and primary spokesperson for the local and its composite locals. He is responsible for signing and overseeing negotiations of the PSAC Ontario DCL Service Agreement for each bargaining unit within the composite during the negotiation process.
Drawing on his experience as a Teaching Assistant, Teaching Fellow, Research Assistant, and Research Fellow at Queen’s, he says he is deeply committed to advocating for the needs of graduate students and postdoctoral staff.
“I’m not one to be boastful, but I feel so good that I could be the first Black and the first African to run for the position and get it,” he said. “It’s motivating to people who look like me to also participate in the union.”
“I love when there’s not much gap between the top and the bottom, when there is a kind of conviviality,” he said. “I’m trying to build a space where we can always be available to our members, because we’re all the same, and we live in the same reality.”
While the term started after the recent PSAC 901 strike, where the University saw approximately 2,000 graduate workers walk off their jobs for seven weeks to the picket lines after failing to reach a tentative agreement to renew their Collective Agreement with the University.
Baruwa explained that while he was proud that the union was able to win some “important gains,” he believes that there was more to be done.
Last year, during the negotiations, PSAC 901 sought an annual payment of $250,000 from the University to “support the mental health, psychological safety and wellbeing of Employees” although there was no agreement reached on this issue.
“There are concerns that weren’t addressed in that round of bargaining,” he said. “We should be able to bargain more in the 2026-27 year of bargaining […] Some of our demands, like the mental health and hardship fund, it’s not something we just thought of, and we feel like the employer should do it as a result of member concerns.”
Reflecting on the strike, Baruwa also recognized the importance of further involvement with the broader Kingston population.
“Community coalition is very important,” he said. “We need to build good relationships with the communities that we have.”
This coming year, Baruwa hopes to see increased member participation in the Stewards’ Council, a forum where Stewards can share information and raise concerns from their respective departments.
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