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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.
The Contract Teaching Faculty (CTF) collective agreement expired on Aug. 31, 2025. Wilfrid Laurier University and the Wilfrid Laurier University Faculty Association (WLUFA), which represents CTF, are currently in negotiations.
WLUFA Requests No Board Report; Strike Deadline Set as Part of Ongoing Negotiations
Wilfrid Laurier University and Wilfrid Laurier University’s Faculty Association (WLUFA) representing Contract Teaching Faculty (CTF) have been negotiating to renew their collective agreement since June 2025. Following two days of conciliation in late January, the parties were unable to reach an agreement.
WLUFA requested a no board report from the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development and the report was issued on Feb. 4. This triggers a 17-day countdown, after which a legal strike or lockout can occur. A strike deadline has been set for Feb. 23, 2026. This means if an agreement cannot be reached, Laurier’s CTF will be in a legal strike position as of 12:01 a.m. on Feb. 23, 2026.
Leading up to the strike deadline, both parties have agreed to continue to meet and have agreed to engage the assistance of a mediator to help reach an agreement. 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. Courses, labs, and tutorials taught by full-time faculty, teaching assistants, and instructional assistants will continue as normal. Courses, labs, and tutorials taught by CTF will be suspended for the duration of the strike. All university staff will be expected to continue to carry out their regular work responsibilities. The university is focused on having plans in place to help ensure academic continuity. Students should continue to complete readings and assignments in all courses on time.
The university is committed to keeping students, faculty and staff informed and will continue to provide updates on the negotiations webpage as the situation evolves. Visit the General FAQs and Bargaining and Negotiation Process FAQs for more information. If you have any further questions related to the CTF negotiations, email negotiations@wlu.ca.
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 Feb. 23 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 winter term continues.
The strike deadline is 12:01 a.m. on Feb. 23, 2026. This is the earliest the union could choose to strike. Leading up to the strike deadline both parties can continue to meet and have confirmed the assistance of a mediator to help reach an agreement.
The university will communicate updates to students as the situation evolves. Students should monitor their Laurier email accounts, this webpage and My Learning Space for the most up to date information on union negotiations.
Courses taught by CTF participating in a strike would be temporarily suspended. Courses, labs, tutorials and instructional activities led by full time faculty, teaching assistants, instructional assistants, and lab coordinators will continue. CTF may choose to exercise their right to continue to work during the labour disruption.
Only courses taught by CTF participating in a strike would be temporarily suspended. Courses and instructional activities led by full time faculty, teaching assistants, instructional assistants, and lab coordinators will continue. Student programming and services, including the Library and Wellness Centre, would remain open and available. 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.
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. 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.
Virtual courses 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.
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.
Yes, all WLIC courses are taught by CTF and would 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.
Students should monitor their Laurier email accounts, this webpage and My Learning Space for the most up to date information on union negotiations.
Ensuring students can complete their degrees on their planned timeline is a top priority. In the event of a strike, the university will be communicating strategies to help support academic continuity.
The university and WLUFA began meeting in June 2025 to negotiate a renewed collective agreement for Contract Teaching Faculty (CTF).
The contract teaching faculty collective agreement expired Aug. 31, 2025.
The university and WLUFA have met 32 times since negotiations began in June 2025.
Yes. A no board report was requested by the union on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026.
The union or the university can request a no board report from the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development 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.
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.
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 Feb. 4, 2026.
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.
The strike deadline is 12:01 a.m. on Feb. 23, 2026. This means that the earliest the union could choose to strike is Feb. 23. Leading up to the strike deadline both parties can continue to meet and have agreed to engage a mediator to help reach an agreement. A mediation date has been scheduled for Feb. 22, 2026.
Mediation entails a third-party mediator assisting the university and the union to reach an agreement.
Both parties continue to meet leading up to the strike deadline date and have engaged the assistance of a mediator.
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, including teaching their courses, tutorials, and labs. 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.
CTF are hired on a contract basis to instruct university degree credit-courses at all campus locations.
Full-time faculty are in a separate bargaining unit from CTF. They are hired into tenure track and non-tenure limited term positions and required to maintain an active research portfolio and service contributions in addition to teaching a set number of courses each year.