WLUFA Union Negotiations
This webpage is designed to ensure our students have timely and accurate information related to the status of collective bargaining between the university and Contract Teaching Faculty (CTF). We understand students may hear information about the negotiations that may lead to some questions. Here is where you can find the latest student-related updates and answers.
Updates
The university and the Wilfrid Laurier Faculty Association (WLUFA), which represents Contract Teaching Faculty (CTF), have now ratified the tentative agreement that was reached through mediation on Nov. 16.
The new collective agreement is in effect Sept. 1, 2022 – Aug. 31, 2025. Fall term will continue as scheduled.
Negotiations began in May and both parties met 12 times before reaching a tentative agreement.
We understand that negotiations are a challenging time for all involved. The university and WLUFA appreciate the commitment, hard work and goodwill that went into this process.
Wilfrid Laurier University and the Wilfrid Laurier University Faculty Association (WLUFA) are pleased to jointly announce that the parties have reached a tentative deal for a renewal of the collective agreement for Contract Teaching Faculty (CTF).
The agreement was reached on Nov. 16 at 2:30 a.m. after 16 hours of negotiations with the assistance of a mediator.
The two parties have met 12 times since negotiations began in May.
The tentative deal will be reviewed for ratification by the university’s Board of Governors and CTF members. Both parties have agreed to recommend ratification of the tentative agreement. The details of the tentative agreement are confidential until both parties ratify.
The university and WLUFA are grateful to both bargaining teams for the commitment, hard work and goodwill that went into reaching an agreement that each are pleased to recommend.
Updates on the ratification process will be provided as they become available.
A strike deadline has been set for Nov. 18 as part of the ongoing negotiations between the university and Wilfrid Laurier University’s Faculty Association representing Contract Teaching Faculty (CTF).
This means if an agreement cannot be reached, Laurier’s CTF will be in a legal strike position as of midnight on Nov. 17.
Leading up to a strike deadline, both parties can continue to meet and have requested the assistance of a mediator to help reach an agreement. A meeting with a mediator is scheduled for Nov. 15. The university is committed to continuing talks with CTF in hopes of reaching an agreement without a strike.
In the event of a CTF strike, the university will remain open and student services and programming will continue. Full-time faculty, teaching assistants, and all staff will be expected to continue to carry out their work responsibilities.
The university is focused on having plans in place to help ensure academic continuity. Students should continue to complete all course requirements on time.
Information on which courses might be impacted by a potential strike will be communicated to students soon. If a strike occurs, we will be communicating regularly with impacted students on our plans to help support academic continuity.
The university is committed to keeping students informed and will continue to provide updates on this webpage as the situation evolves. For more information, visit the FAQS and if you have any further questions related to the CTF negotiations, please email negotiations@wlu.ca.
Contract Teaching Faculty (CTF), represented by the Wilfrid Laurier University Faculty Association (WLUFA), have asked the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development for a “no board” report in the contract negotiations with the university.
The union’s request means that CTF will be in a legal strike position 17 calendar days after the “no board” report is issued. It is important to note that a “no board” report is frequently requested in contract negotiations and often prompts mediation and an eventual settlement.
The two parties have met 11 times since negotiations began in May, including one meeting with a provincially appointed conciliator on Oct. 24 to assist with the negotiations.
The university is keen to continue talks with the union and is committed to working with contract teaching faculty in developing a contract that is fair, equitable and financially sustainable. We remain hopeful that a collective agreement will be reached through negotiations at the bargaining table.
We are also focused on having operational plans in place to help ensure academic continuity throughout the negotiation process.
The university will be communicating regularly as the situation evolves.
Contract Teaching Faculty (CTF), represented by the Wilfrid Laurier University Faculty Association (WLUFA), have announced a positive strike vote.
This means that of the CTF members who voted, a majority agreed to authorize the union to call a strike if the parties are unable to reach an agreement.
A strike vote by secret ballot is required before a union can lawfully take strike action. Holding a strike vote is a common occurrence in collective bargaining and does not necessarily mean a strike will occur.
WLUFA and the university have met 10 times since negotiations began in May and are meeting with a provincially appointed conciliator on October 24 to assist the parties with the negotiations.
The university is keen to continue talks with the union and is committed to working with contract teaching faculty to reach an agreement that is fair, equitable and financially sustainable.
The university will be communicating regularly as the situation evolves.
Wilfrid Laurier University and the Wilfrid Laurier University Faculty Association (WLUFA) are filing a joint request for conciliation as part of the ongoing negotiations of the contract teaching faculty collective agreement.
Conciliation is a normal part of the collective bargaining process, during which a conciliation officer is appointed by the province to act as a facilitator to assist both parties in reaching a settlement. The joint request for a conciliator was made on Sept. 16. The parties are scheduled to meet with a conciliation officer on Oct. 24.
The parties exchanged proposals in May and have met 10 times. The current collective agreement expired Aug. 31.
Laurier is committed to continuing to meet with the union to reach a fair, equitable and financially sustainable agreement and will continue to communicate updates as necessary.
It’s important to remember that although there is a potential for a strike, there is also potential for an agreement to be reached prior to the Nov. 18 strike deadline. Leading up to the strike deadline, there will be no disruption to classes and students should continue to attend all lectures and instructional activities, and complete their assignments on time. The university is open and fall term continues.
There are four potential outcomes:
- The two parties reach a tentative agreement.
- Another session with the mediator could be set to continue talks toward reaching an agreement.
- An agreement isn’t reached and talks between the university and union are paused, but no strike action is announced.
- The union can declare it is taking strike action and could choose to strike as early as Nov. 18.
The strike deadline is 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 17, 2022. This means that the earliest the union could choose to strike is Nov. 18, 2022. Leading up to the strike deadline both parties can continue to meet and have requested the assistance of a mediator to help reach an agreement. A mediation date has been scheduled for Nov. 15, 2022. Learn more about the negotiations process.
The university will continue to communicate updates to students as the situations evolves. Students should regularly monitor their Laurier email accounts, this webpage and My Learning Space for the most up to date information on union negotiations.
Classes taught by CTF participating in a strike would be temporarily suspended. Courses and instructional activities led by full time faculty, TAs and lab coordinators will continue. CTF may choose to exercise their right to continue to work during the labour disruption.
Only classes taught by CTF participating in a strike would be temporarily suspended. Courses and instructional activities led by full time faculty, TAs and lab coordinators will continue. Student programming and services, including the library and wellness centre, would remain open and available.
When a union and employer reach an impasse in negotiating a collective agreement, and after several criteria are met, unions may choose to legally strike an employer. Employees who choose to strike, withdraw their labour or services and may participate in job action activities like organizing near the employer to form a picket line. The labour the employees withdraw could include teaching, supervising, and/or advising students.
Recognizing that many students may not know if their courses are being delivered by a CTF member, a breakdown of fall 2022 courses indicating instructor type (PDF; last updated Nov. 4) is available for reference. This document is provided as advanced information only to help keep our students informed as negotiations continue.
Students are encouraged to review the document, locate their courses (CRN# will match enrolment in LORIS), and note the listed instructor type code:
- FT: Courses are taught by full-time faculty.
- CTF: Courses are taught by contract teaching faculty members.
- If your course does not appear on the list, please contact negotiations@wlu.ca for support in confirming the status. Music Students: If your course lists “FT & CTF” for instructor type, please contact Josh Manuel.
Further information about tutorials and labs is forthcoming.
Note: If you require assistance in accessing any information within this document, please reach out to negotiations@wlu.ca.
Classes taught by striking contract teaching faculty will be temporarily suspended during a strike. The university will provide information to students about which courses will be impacted and operational plans in place to support academic continuity if there is a strike.
Yes. In the event of a strike, contract teaching faculty may engage in strike related activity such as gathering together near the university to form a picket line. These gatherings would be peaceful, and your safety will be respected, but allow for additional time to get to where you need to go on campus in case there are delays.
No, full-time faculty are part of a separate bargaining unit and must continue to carry out their duties and teach.
No. Full-time and part-time faculty at MLUC are not part of the WLUFA bargaining unit. Therefore, they will not be part of the strike, and students in their courses will not be impacted.
No. Teaching Assistants are represented by a different union and therefore will continue with their assigned teaching assistantships. Teaching Assistants working with CTF who are impacted by a strike will still have their contracts honoured by the university.
No. You may continue to work your allotted hours as normal.
No. Students in the co-op program who are on a work term will not be impacted and will be expected to fulfil their work term responsibilities. Students who are seeking work term opportunity for next semester will be expected to attend any required co-op curriculum modules during this time and continue working with the co-op office and their co-op co-ordinator to job search, apply for jobs and attend interviews.
In the event of a strike, students away from campus on an international exchange will not be impacted. Exchange students attending Laurier should continue to check their university email and visit this webpage for information and updates.
If there is a strike, degree seeking international students should check with an International Student Advisor at the Laurier International Office for specific information.
For incoming international exchange students, a strike will not impact your study permit and you will be considered enrolled as a Laurier student provided you maintain your legal status with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and continue to comply with the terms and conditions of your permits and visas. The Registrar’s Office will remain open if there is a strike and will respond to document requests.
No. Undergraduate and graduate students are expected to continue their research and they will continue to receive scholarships or research stipends.
Students should monitor their Laurier email accounts, this webpage and My Learning Space for the most up to date information on union negotiations.
No. They will not be paid while on strike.
They could be provided the option to pay for benefits continuation during a strike. This would be determined as part of the strike protocols negotiated between the university and the union.
Academic Continuity and Student Services FAQs
Ensuring students can complete their degrees in the timelines they set out is a top priority. The university will be communicating strategies to help support academic continuity with students enrolled in courses that may be impacted by a potential strike. Students should monitor their email, this webpage and My Learning Space.
Yes. All students should continue to complete all course work on time and continue to attend scheduled classes, labs, seminars, and tutorials.
Yes. All student services, including the library and wellness centre, will be open.
Yes. All student services, including the library and wellness centre, will be open.
Yes. Intramurals and other student programming will continue as scheduled.
Students should regularly monitor their Laurier email accounts, this webpage and My Learning Space for the most up to date information on any potential impacts from the ongoing negotiations.
The university and WLUFA began meeting in May 2022 to negotiate a renewal collective agreement for Contract Teaching Faculty (CTF) and part-time librarians.
CTF are involved in instructing our university degree credit-courses at all campus locations. The university issued 500 contracts to contract teaching faculty for the fall 2022 term.
The contract teaching faculty collective agreement expired Aug. 31, 2022.
The university and WLUFA have met 11 times since negotiations began in May 2022.
The union or the university can request a “no board” report following the first meeting with a provincially appointed conciliator. A “no board” report is the written notice to the union or the employer informing them that a board of conciliation will not be appointed. This means the two sides were not able to reach an agreement through conciliation.
Yes. A “no board” report was requested by the union on Oct. 24.
After a request for a “no board” report, the conciliation officer will report the outcome to the Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development and the minister will send a written notice to the union and the employer informing them that a board of conciliation will not be appointed. This is commonly known as a “no board” report. Receiving a “no board” report triggers the countdown to when a union can legally strike, or an employer can impose a lockout.
The earliest the union can strike is 17 days after receiving the “no board” report. Leading up to a strike deadline, the parties can continue to meet in the hopes of reaching an agreement. The parties can agree to engage the assistance of a mediator to assist them during this period. A “no board” report was issued on Nov. 1.
A strike vote by secret ballot with its members must be held before the union can lawfully commence a strike of employees in a bargaining unit. A majority of members who participate in the vote, must vote in favour of strike action for it to result in a positive strike vote. Holding a strike vote is a common step in the collective bargaining process and does not necessarily mean that a strike will occur. Parties often continue to bargain and reach an agreement prior to the strike deadline.
Yes, the union announced a positive strike vote on Oct. 6. This means that of the members who participated in the vote, the majority voted in favour of taking strike action. This does not mean there will be a strike, but rather this gives the union the ability to strike if an agreement cannot be reached.
The strike deadline is 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 17, 2022. This means that the earliest the union could choose to strike is Nov. 18, 2022. Leading up to the strike deadline both parties can continue to meet and have requested the assistance of a mediator to help reach an agreement. A mediation date has been scheduled for Nov. 15, 2022.
Mediation entails a government-appointed third party assisting the university and the union to reach an agreement.
Both parties can continue to meet leading up to the strike deadline date and have requested the assistance of a mediator to help reach an agreement. A mediation date has been scheduled for Nov. 15, 2022.
If the union and the university are unable to reach an agreement by the strike deadline, then the union could choose to strike. In the event of a CTF strike, the university will remain open and student services and programming will continue. Full-time faculty, teaching assistants, and all staff will be expected to continue to carry out their work responsibilities.
The university is focused on having plans in place to help ensure academic continuity. Students should continue to complete all course requirements on time. Updates can be found on this webpage.
Students should regularly monitor their Laurier email accounts, this webpage and My Learning Space for the most up to date information on union negotiations.
The university has taken steps through collective bargaining to address many of the priorities identified by our contract teaching faculty. Most non-monetary items have been tentatively agreed upon. An agreement on compensation is still outstanding.
Laurier is committed to reaching a fair agreement that is financially sustainable. Given universities in Ontario are not experiencing increases in tuition and grant revenue, the university must prioritize making financially sustainable decisions.
Full-time faculty are hired into tenure track positions. These positions are limited in number and are subject to a lengthy and rigorous selection process. In addition to teaching, full-time faculty require an active research portfolio and compulsory service contributions.
The compensation provided to Laurier’s contract teaching faculty is competitive compared to other Ontario universities. Our per course stipend ranks higher than average for Ontario universities.