SQL Server collate syntax error

Question

I have searched using collate and am using it in the same way the answers say to use it; however, I am getting an error

Incorrect syntax near 'COLLATE'

Here is my query:

SELECT
    P.FIRST_NAME_SRCH,
    P.LAST_NAME_SRCH,
    ' ' as Title,
    CASE E.FULL_PART_TIME
       WHEN 'F' THEN 'Full Time'
       WHEN 'P' THEN 'Part Time'
       WHEN 'O' THEN 'Occasional'
       ELSE E.FULL_PART_TIME
    END AS FULL_PART_TIME,
    ' ' as Capacity,
    REPLACE(E.HOME_PHONE,'/','-') as HOMEPHONE,
    ' ' as MobilePh,
    ' ' as Email,
    CONVERT(char(10),E.BIRTHDATE,101) as 'BIRTHDATE',
    CASE 
       WHEN E.HIRE_DT > E.REHIRE_DT THEN CONVERT(char(10),E.HIRE_DT,101)
       WHEN E.REHIRE_DT > E.HIRE_DT THEN CONVERT(char(10),E.REHIRE_DT,101)
       ELSE CONVERT(char(10),E.HIRE_DT,101)
    END as 'HIRE_DT',
    ' ' as CommPref,
    RTRIM(K.LEVEL3) as 'JOBCODE',
    E.EMPLID
FROM
    HRPROD..PS_EMPLOYEES E, HRPROD..PS_PERSONAL_DATA P, TKCSDB..CTRLEVEL3CFG K
WHERE
    E.COMPANY = 'WSQ'
    AND E.EMPLID = P.EMPLID
    AND K.VAL106 COLLATE DATABASE_DEFAULT = E.JOBCODE COLLATE DATABASE_DEFAULT
ORDER BY
    P.LAST_NAME_SRCH

I have tried (with same syntax error)

AND 
   UPPER(K.VAL106) COLLATE DATABASE_DEFAULT = UPPER(E.JOBCODE) COLLATE DATABASE_DEFAULT

and (returns Cannot resolve collation conflict for equal to operation.)

UPPER(K.VAL106) = UPPER(E.JOBCODE)

What am I doing wrong in the syntax?

Answer 1

This must be a version thing. Executing via the SQL SERVER 2012 Mgt Studio query tool returns the expected results without error.