In his first public remarks on the tentative union contract agreement and tonight’s ratification votes by Locals 34 and 35, University President Richard Levin said today that the votes could mark a “truly new chapter” in Yale’s embattled labor union history.

“As you all know, our history is not one that any of us can be proud of,” he told the crowd of dozens at a press conference today. “We’ve had way too many strikes, way too many bitter disputes over the years.”