Tips for Faculty Members Looking to Discuss Faculty Negotiations and a Potential Strike
- Share the Take Action to Avert a Strike Tool that students and community members can use to take action to help us negotiate a fair deal for Faculty.
- Always ask students and community members to follow the Faculty Association on our website and social media for more updates: https://bsky.app/profile/uoitfa.bsky.social, instagram.com/uoitfa and linkedin.com/company/uoitfa/
- Students are always welcome to reach out the Faculty Association to ask further questions via email at [email protected].
- Do not use class time to discuss the potential strike with students – invite them to arrive several minutes before class or ask them to stay for several minutes after class if you are open to discussing the potential of a strike.
- The Faculty Association has resources available to make this discussion easier for our members. We have an Info on a Potential Strike PowerPoint Presentation and a UOITFA Class Talk Script to help our members who feel comfortable discussing the current bargaining situation with their students.
- If you do not feel comfortable speaking to your students directly but would like to ensure they are informed about Faculty negotiations, please reach out to the UOITFA at [email protected] to have a UOITFA representative come to discuss this with your students once your class has ended. This may allow your students to speak more candidly and for you to maintain some separation from these issues in your class while still ensuring your students have the information they need about a potential strike.
FAQ For Ontario Tech Students: UOITFA Potential Strike
The UOITFA has been hearing a lot of questions from students about current negotiations between the Faculty Association and University and the potential for a strike on our campus. We’ve compiled some of the more commonly asked questions in the hopes of providing students and community members with helpful information as we continue with negotiations, in the hopes to avoid a strike at Ontario Tech.
Why should Ontario Tech students care about the Faculty Association’s negotiations?
When we negotiate with the university for a new contract, we try to improve the overall quality of education for everyone at Ontario Tech. The quality of your education is determined by a number of factors, including class and size; how much time Faculty members have to develop and teach courses; how much time your instructors have to grade your work and give you one-on-one instruction; what kind of resources are available to students and Faculty alike; and whether your education environment is open and inclusive.
Another important issue in this round of bargaining is collegial governance, and the role Faculty have in the decisions facing the University. Universities are collegially governed – this means professors should be treated as partners in decisions regarding academic programming including things like budgets, approvals for new academic programs, and the overall growth of the University. Currently in this round of bargaining, and in other collegially governed bodies such as Academic Council, the University is disrespecting the contributions of Faculty Members and undermining collegial governance. Supporting Faculty at Ontario Tech means supporting fair and transparent decision-making around the issues that impact your education.
Do I need to be worried about a possible strike or lockout?
At this stage, the UOIT Faculty Association may have to enter into a legal strike position if the Ontario Tech Administration refuses to negotiate fairly with Faculty Members. We have entered into Conciliation which is a process offered by the Ministry of Labour to provide help in reaching a collective agreement. Conciliation is mandatory before the parties can engage in a strike or lockout. There are several stages of conciliation before we can enter into a legal strike position:
- Either party may apply to the Ministry for a conciliator, and a conciliator is appointed by the Ministry.
- A Conciliator assists the parties during the bargaining process to negotiate a collective agreement.
- If an agreement cannot be reached with the assistance of a conciliator than either party may request a no board report from the Conciliator.
- Once the conciliator issues the no board report, there is 17-day period before the parties enter a legal strike or lockout position.
While we have requested a no-board, we have not yet set a firm strike deadline. Follow our website and social media for updates on a potential strike at Ontario Tech.
Why are Faculty Members at Ontario Tech considering a strike now?
For the past nine months, we have been negotiating with the university for a new contract that brings Faculty working conditions in line with working conditions at other Universities across the province.
The University’s financial position remains quite strong with the Administration tabling a surplus budget for 2025-26 year. The surplus budget for 2025-26 is in line with previous years as Ontario Tech has realized budgetary surpluses for 12 out of the last 13 budget years. We believe it is time for the University to invest in its core educational mission, and the students, faculty and staff that are central to that mission.
We tried to bargain in our current round of negotiations without relying on our usual leverage mechanisms such as a potential strike, as we recognize how much pressure and uncertainty the post-secondary sector is currently facing – including our students who pay an incredible amount in tuition for their education at Ontario Tech. We wanted to negotiate a fair deal that would work for all parties but unfortunately Ontario Tech’s Administration has refused to change their position since September 2025, and they refused to engage in mediation to find a solution without reverting to discussions of a potential strike on our campus.
Faculty have been left with no choice but to use the leverage tools we have available, in the hopes the University is willing to negotiate a fair Collective Agreement in good faith, in order to avoid a strike.
Will a strike effect classes and exams?
A strike could affect your classes and your exams if they are taught by a full-time Faculty member including tenured, tenure-track, teaching or limited-term faculty. During our February 2022 strike, Faculty members worked tirelessly following the end of the strike to ensure that all students were able to complete the academic semester on time.
The Faculty Association is unsure what plans the Ontario Tech Administration would make in the event of the strike, but we will do everything we can to keep you informed. Follow the UOITFA on our social media platforms to make sure you don’t miss any updates.