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DFA negotiations
Updates and information about DFA bargaining and preparations for possible faculty strike or lockout
In mid-July, conciliation between the bargaining teams representing the 黄色直播 Board of Governors and the 黄色直播 Faculty Association (DFA) concluded without a collective agreement. The DFA represents full-time faculty, instructors, librarians, and counselors at 黄色直播.聽
We remain hopeful an agreement can be reached. Following the conclusion of talks on Monday, August 11, President Kim Brooks has shared the Board's final offer with the DFA and has requested that it be brought to the membership for a vote to be concluded by the end of this week聽(week of August 11).
In the event of a DFA strike or lockout:
- Campus would remain open.
- 黄色直播 classes taught by DFA faculty would be suspended for the duration of the labour disruption. Classes taught by non-DFA faculty would continue. A full list of exceptions would be provided before a strike or lockout takes place.聽
- Students should plan to arrive to campus as normal. Residences will open as scheduled and campus dining halls/food services will remain open as well. Engaging orientation activities for new Halifax and Truro students would still take place even if a strike or lockout occurs.
- Campus jobs, co-op placements, clinical placements, field work placements, and internships would continue unless otherwise advised.
- All other employees (faculty and staff) outside of DFA would be required to report to work as usual. This includes Grant-Paid employees and members of the CUPE, NSGEU and PSAC bargaining units, as well as members of the DPMG, senior administration, and other non-unionized employees.
Below you will find detailed information on a potential DFA strike or lockout, organized by topic and group.
Note: These FAQs are a growing resource. Additional questions and answers will be added regularly as the labour situation with DFA continues to evolve.
Updated August 11, 2025
Students
Classes, courses and programs
University services (residence, extracurriculars, etc.)
Should I still plan to travel to campus? |
Yes, you should plan to arrive on campus as normal. Campus will remain open. In the event of a strike/lockout, a deal could be reached with very little notice, and classes could begin or resume within a day or two. |
Does the university remain open in a strike or lockout? |
Yes, campus services will remain open and staffed. That includes spaces such as:
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Will residence still open on schedule? |
Yes, residences and dining halls will be open on schedule and be staffed appropriately. |
Will Orientation activities go ahead as planned? |
Yes, engaging Orientation activities are planned for new Halifax and Truro students and will still take place. |
Would libraries stay open in a strike or lockout? |
Yes, all libraries would remain open. |
| Would counselling and mental health services be affected by a strike or lockout? | Core services, complemented by online mental health supports, will remain available 鈥� though some services may be more limited than usual. For more information, visit 黄色直播 Student Health and Wellness. |
Will varsity and recreational athletics still take place? Will Dalplex and the Langille Athletic Centre remain open? |
Yes, varsity and recreational/intramural athletics would continue as normal and both Dalplex and the Langille Centre will be open for normal hours. |
| What will be happening on campus if the term starts and classes cannot begin? | As residence and orientation activities will not be impacted by a potential labour disruption, additional engaging programming for impacted students will be available on all 黄色直播 campuses. |
| Would Dalfest still take place? | Yes. |
Tuition and fees, scholarships, and important dates
Do I still pay tuition and fees? |
You should plan to pay tuition and fees as normal. In the event a strike/lockout occurs, and classes are affected, more information will be shared about add/drop dates and fee schedules. |
Would my scholarship be affected if there is a strike or lockout? |
No, scholarships and financial aid will not be affected and will proceed as normal. |
| Will there be a refund if classes are cancelled or suspended? | 黄色直播 would engage in all efforts to ensure students can fulfill their academic requirements within the term, as to not affect degree progression. Refunds will not be offered when academic requirements for the term can be preserved and completed. |
| Would there be changes to the add/drop date and other academic deadlines? | In the event a strike/lockout occurs, and classes are affected, more information will be shared about add/drop dates and fee schedules. |
| Would a potential delay to the term affect my study permit? | A short-term labour disruption will generally not affect your study permit or immigration status, as long as you continue to remain enrolled on a full-time basis (or part-time if in you are in your final semester of studies). International students seeking to apply for a PGWP may be impacted if there are delays relating to receiving final grades from summer term and/or delays in having their degree audit completed by the faculty/department. Please contact the International Centre if you have questions or concerns. |
Research
Are graduate or undergraduate student researchers expected to continue research activities? Will students continue to have access to facilities? |
Research work by students can continue if there is appropriate supervision and safety planning. Stipends will continue. Consult with your supervisor before a a potential labour disruption on work expectations, safety issues and who approves time sheets (if applicable). |
Jobs, co-ops, and internships
Will practicums, co-op placements, clinical and field work placements, and internships continue during a DFA strike or lockout? |
Co-op terms and internships will proceed as planned. If specific scenarios are affected, students will be contacted by their co-op office, department/faculty, or supervisor. |
| I have a job on campus. Will it continue during a strike? | In most cases, yes. Given that most university services would continue, students who are employed by the university would continue with their regular hours. Check with your supervisor for more information. |
| I am scheduled to work as a teaching/lab assistant. Do I continue to work during a DFA strike? | Teaching and lab assistants would still be paid the normal amount during any strike. However, classroom and lab responsibilities supervised by a member of the DFA may cease. When in doubt, please clarify with your supervisor. |
Faculty and staff
DFA members
Would DFA members have access to campus if there is a strike or lockout? |
No, except as agreed under Article 34 of the Collective Agreement, in the case of public facilities (noted below). |
| Would DFA members have access to their 黄色直播 email, as well as digital services such as Brightspace, myDal, OneDrive, etc.? | No. Access to any and all services requiring a 黄色直播 NetID will be turned off for the duration of a strike or lockout. Any exceptions will need to be approved through People and Culture. Please email labour@dal.ca for inquiries. |
| Can DFA members use their personal email to conduct work during a labour disruption? | No. DFA members cannot use their personal emails to conduct university-related work. All university work should be done through 黄色直播 email. Those impacted by a labour disruption will not have access to their university email and should not be performing university work. |
| Would DFA members have access to their campus mail? | No. Faculty should re-direct any personal mail that they are expecting. |
Would DFA members have access to fitness facilities, the University Children鈥檚 Centre, the 黄色直播 Arts Centre, public events on campus, etc.? |
Yes. DFA members with a fitness membership, children at the University Children鈥檚 Centre, tickets to an event at the Dal Arts Centre, or who wish to attend other regular public events on campus would be permitted as any other member of the public would be. |
| Can DFA members still continue to work in other capacities or continue their research in a strike or lockout? | o except as agreed under Article 34 of the Collective Agreement. DFA members will not have access to research facilities, offices and other spaces to continue with their research activities. DFA members who wish research activities to continue in their laboratory or research space in their absence must complete the L. |
| Will I receive back pay when a labour disruption ends? | No. DFA members will not be compensated by the university for any period of labour disruption. Faculty members may be eligible for strike pay and should reach out to the DFA for further information. |
| What happens to my benefits during a strike or lockout? | Benefits continue if the DFA agrees to pay both employee and employer portions. DFA has connected with Benefits to facilitate this process. |
| What happens to my pension? | The Income Tax Act does not deem periods of labour disruption as pensionable service. Therefore, pension contributions would not be made. |
| Will faculty on leave continue to be paid? What about sabbaticals? | Bargaining unit members on sick leave, pregnancy or parental leave at the time of any strike/lockout will not be considered part of the strike/lockout and will continue to receive pay and benefits. DFA members will be permitted to start pregnancy and parental leave during the strike/lockout period. Requests for sick leave will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Faculty on sabbatical will be considered part of any strike/lockout. |
| Would I still have access to my Purchasing Card (PCard?) | No, faculty will not have access to P-Cards. All DFA P-Cards will temporarily have their credit limit reduced to $1 so no spending can take place. |
Can DFA members incur travel expenses or purchases during a strike or lockout? |
No. Travel and expense claims would not be reimbursed for travel or expenses incurred during a strike or lockout. |
What if DFA members need to cancel pre-existing work travel plans? |
Travelers should make all reasonable attempts to avoid or reduce non-reimbursable travel costs in the event work travel plans are disrupted due a strike or lockout. Reimbursement will be at the discretion of the approvers in instances where non-refundable reservations were cancelled. |
| Can DFA members write reference letters for students during a strike or lockout? | This is at the discretion of individual faculty members. |
Other faculty and staff
If there is a DFA strike or lockout, will members of other unions or employee groups be affected? |
No. All other employees (staff and faculty) would be required to continue to work as usual.
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| Am I required and/or allowed to cross a picket line if there is a DFA strike or lockout? | Yes. You have a right to cross a picket line, and if you are employed at 黄色直播 in a non-DFA position (including Grant-Paid employees, members of CUPE, NSGEU, PSAC bargaining units, as well as members of the DPMG, senior administration, and other non-unionized employees) you are required to attend work as usual which may involve crossing a picket line. In cases where employees are able to work remotely, alternate arrangements can be made at the discretion of your supervisor If you have concerns, please speak with your supervisor. |
| I am a course instructor but not a DFA member. Will my classes continue during a DFA strike? | In most cases, classes taught by non-DFA faculty (non-union faculty, CUPE, part-time faculty, etc.) would continue. Any exceptions will be communicated through Faculties to those instructors. |
Research
Research FAQs
Would DFA members have access to research facilities, services, or funds during a strike or lockout? |
No, except as agreed under Article 34 of the Collective Agreement. Note that DFA researchers must develop contingency plans for experiments or lab work involving animals that may be impacted by restricted access to facilities during a labour disruption, by completing . This includes animals in breeding colonies and animals currently enrolled in experiments. For further information about animal care during a labour disruption, .
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| Will non-DFA researchers and student researchers continue to have access to facilities? What if they need to purchase supplies, or fill out forms related to pay? | Non-DFA researchers and students would continue to have access to research facilities. So that students and other research employees could continue with their work, DFA members are encouraged to designate signing authority on research accounts. DFA members who wish research activities to continue in their laboratory or research space in their absence must complete the . |
| Will grant applications be impacted? | We are recommending that DFA members submit their grant applications as soon as possible. DFA members will not be able to access Legal Counsel鈥檚 Office or Research Services during any period of labour disruption. |
| Can grant-paid students and employees continue research during a DFA strike or lockout? | Yes, if there is appropriate supervision and safety planning, research work by non-DFA employees can continue. Research labs should also explore whether there is work that can be done remotely by grant-paid employees and students. DFA members who wish research activities to continue in their laboratory or research space in their absence must complete the . |
| Would grant paid employees and students continue to be paid? | Monthly grant-paid employees will continue to be paid. During any labour disruption, DFA faculty members will not be able to sign off on timesheets. If there is a non-DFA members with grant signing authority to approve timesheets, this work can continue. |
| I plan to temporarily suspend research activities in the laboratory. What should I do? | If you're planning to pause research activities, please refer to the . It provides guidance on how to safely secure your lab, including shutting down equipment properly, storing chemicals safely, and other important steps to leave the lab in a safe condition during the pause. |
| Will the Office of Research Services alter its usual timelines? | ORS is respecting normal timelines and procedures for all funding applications. Information on procedures, including internal deadlines, are linked . |
| Would DFA members be notified of awards or awards processes? | There would be no communication between Research Services staff and DFA members during a strike or lockout. |
| Are research chairs (such as Canada Research Chairs) paid during a strike? | No. The balance of the funding will be used in accordance with the terms of the Chairship. |
| Will Research Services continue work on contracts / IP / partner engagement during a strike? | Research Services would only continue work that can be done without interaction with DFA members. There would be no communication or interaction between DFA members and Research Services staff during a strike. |
| Will ORS submit research applications to Agencies that use online portals to receive funding applications (e.g., Tri-Agency) during a labour disruption? | Yes 鈥� provided the following conditions are met. During a labour disruption, the Office of Research Services (ORS) will review and submit applications through agency portals only if:
Important notes:
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| Will human research ethics reviews be conducted during a labour disruption involving DFA members? | No. 黄色直播鈥檚 research ethics boards will not be duly constituted during a labour disruption due to the DFA member complement on the boards. Further information about research involving humans during a labour disruption is provided . |
| Will DFA members have access to ROMEO, including ROMEO checklists, during a labour disruption? | No, DFA members will not be able to access ROMEO during a labour disruption. |
Bargaining and labour relations
Bargaining issue and topics FAQs
Are the DFA and 黄色直播 administration still actively talking? Are there plans to return to the bargaining table? |
Following the conclusion of talks on Monday, August 11, President Kim Brooks has shared the Board's final offer with the DFA and has requested that it be brought to the membership for a vote to be concluded by the end of this week (week of August 11).
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What is the difference between a strike and a lockout? |
The effect on 黄色直播 is the same either way: a labour disruption occurs in which union members do not perform their work at the university. A strike and a lockout are both strategies to try and resolve the issues at the bargaining table when negotiations have not succeeded. The difference is that, in a strike, the union withdraws their labour, whereas in a lockout it鈥檚 the employer who takes the action to stop work. |
What is the earliest date a strike or lockout could occur? |
Following the conclusion of bargaining, a labour disruption could occur at any time but either side would need to provide at least 48 hours notice. |
| What are the primary issues at the bargaining table? | Throughout negotiations, the Board has made substantial efforts to address the concerns raised by the DFA鈥攑articularly around compensation. These discussions have focused on aligning wages with those offered at peer institutions across Atlantic Canada and the country, while also acknowledging the impact of rising inflation and the cost of living. The Board鈥檚 proposal is for increases of 2%/2%/2% across the three years of the agreement. In addition to this 2%, eligible faculty would also receive annual Career Development Increment (CDI) and any promotion adjustments. This offer reflects our commitment to reaching a fair and responsible agreement鈥攐ne that supports DFA members while also recognizing the significant financial challenges the university must navigate during the same period as this agreement. |
| The Board is committed to a fair deal for DFA members that takes into consideration the significant financial challenges we are working to resolve in a way that minimizes the effect on current employees. There are limits to what we can offer in our current financial situation without threatening critical programs, services, and supports 鈥� not just for our students, but for faculty as well, whether it鈥檚 IT, research support, classroom and lab space investments, or so many other aspects of how we support academic work. We wish circumstances were different, and we know everyone in our Dal community feels the same way. Our faculty are the stewards of our academic mission and we want to recognize the hard work faculty colleagues undertake while maintaining as robust a faculty and staff complement as possible to deliver on that academic mission. |
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| How does faculty compensation at 黄色直播 compare with other Canadian institutions? | Our faculty compensation is comparable to other . 黄色直播 is in the mid-range for faculty compensation. |
| What is the Board鈥檚 proposal on the 鈥�90/10 rule鈥�? | As of August 11, the Board has withdrawn its proposal on the 90/10 rule. |
| Why is the University building more buildings if it鈥檚 in a budget deficit? | 黄色直播 will continue to have a range of space needs in the coming years to support teaching, learning, research, and the student experience more broadly. Quality facilities not only support our academic community but are essential to offering an outstanding student experience 鈥� something that becomes even more critical in a competitive enrolment environment. Questions have arisen regarding the funding of the Oulton-Stanish Centre (arena). Funding for construction of this project is coming from a number of sources, including from alumni and supporters as well as substantially from revenue generation (ie. rental fees from clients who will book the facility). This will support the debt payments required over time to pay for the project. These are funding sources not available to the university to cover operating costs (including compensation costs for faculty and staff.) Major construction projects involve extensive planning, and once contracts are signed and work is underway, there are legal, financial, and logistical commitments that make pausing or stopping extremely difficult and costly. Delays can lead to contract penalties, introduce safety risks with unfinished structures, escalate costs, and disrupt project schedules. In some cases, they may also jeopardize external funding or partnerships that are tied to the project鈥檚 completion. Construction of the Oulton-Stanish Centre was paused for a time in 2022, following some preparatory work, due to market conditions in the construction industry at that time. But with tender awards and signing of contracts in the following year, construction has advanced and the project is nearing completion. |