University of Western Ontario Faculty Association (UWOFA)
Western University and faculty association reach tentative agreement – November 14, 2022
Western University and our faculty association (UWOFA) have reached a tentative agreement.
The tentative deal means that classes will proceed as scheduled tomorrow, Tuesday, November 15.
UWOFA members and Western’s Board of Governors will soon vote on whether to ratify the agreement.
UWOFA represents about 1,500 full- and part-time faculty members at Western.
Negotiations Update: November 10, 2022
The bargaining teams for the university and the University of Western Ontario Faculty Association (UWOFA) continue to meet.
The university is hopeful that an agreement can be achieved and a labour disruption can be avoided.
UWOFA requests No-Board Report: October 24, 2022
The University was advised that the bargaining team for University of Western Ontario Faculty Association (UWOFA) has requested a No Board Report . This is a normal step in the collective bargaining process and begins the countdown to a legal strike date.
Since April 2022, the bargaining committees for the parties have met 20 times to negotiate a renewal collective agreement for faculty. This includes 4 meetings with the government appointed conciliation officer, following UWOFA’s request for conciliation.
The University is optimistic that an agreement, that meets the requirements of the Ontario’s Bill 124, Protecting a Sustainable Public Sector for Future Generations Act, 2019 can be negotiated and a strike can be avoided. The parties have further bargaining sessions scheduled through October and November.
Western and faculty working towards settlement: October 3, 2022
The union representing Western faculty (UWOFA) has been given a strike mandate in a vote conducted last week. This is a standard part of the contract-bargaining process; it does not mean a labour disruption is imminent or inevitable.
The parties have agreed to ongoing bargaining sessions through October and November and will be assisted by a conciliator as necessary in reaching a new agreement.
Western and UWOFA have a history of renewing collective agreements without a labour disruption and we continue to work hard at reaching a fair and reasonable settlement at the bargaining table.
UWOFA Bargaining Update: September 26, 2022
The University and the University of Western Ontario Faculty Association (UWOFA) have been in collective bargaining since April 2022. This bargaining is aimed at negotiating a renewal collective agreement for faculty. The current collective agreement expired on June 30, 2022.
The parties have met 11 times and will meet on September 28 and October 6 with the assistance of a government appointed conciliation officer, following UWOFA’s request for conciliation.
This bargaining occurs under the three-year moderation period applicable to all broader public sector employers set out in Ontario’s Bill 124, Protecting a Sustainable Public Sector for Future Generations Act, 2019. Bill 124 limits increases to compensation to a total of 1 per cent per year for each year of the moderation period.
The University is committed to achieving a negotiated renewal agreement with UWOFA that is fair and maximizes the improvements allowed under Bill 124.
Our goal is always to have productive and constructive rounds of bargaining to reach collective agreement without labour disruption. We always want to work collaboratively with our union partners.
We value the vital contributions our faculty make to student learning, research and creative activity. Their work is integral to Western’s impact on the world – locally, nationally and globally.
