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Labour Relations

Latest updates

July 23 - Update on budget and DFA negotiations

July 18 - Conciliation with DFA concludes without an agreement

June 2 - Dalhousie seeks assistance of a conciliator to reach agreement with DFA


More bargaining updates

Updates and information about DFA bargaining and preparations for possible faculty strike or lockout


In mid-July, conciliation between the bargaining teams representing the Dalhousie Board of Governors and the Dalhousie Faculty Association (DFA) concluded without a collective agreement. The DFA represents full-time faculty, instructors, librarians, and counselors at Dalhousie.聽

We remain hopeful an agreement can be reached. The negotiating teams are expected to meet with the conciliator at least once more before any action is taken. That said, if an agreement is not reached, a faculty strike or lockout could take place as early as the week of August 11, and the university has begun preparing for this possibility.聽

In the event of a DFA strike or lockout:

  • Campus would remain open.
  • Dalhousie 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 July 31, 2025

Students

Classes, courses and programs

What classes would be cancelled if there is a faculty strike or lockout?

 Dalhousie classes taught by DFA faculty would be suspended for the duration of the labour disruption. This would impact most, but not all, classes at Dalhousie. Many classes taught by non-DFA faculty would continue. 

A full list of exceptions would be provided before a strike or lockout takes place, as well as communicated directly to students registered in those courses.

How will I find out what鈥檚 going on with my classes?

The university is planning to provide a list of classes that would be continuing in a strike or lockout. You can expect further updates in your Dal email and in Brightspace.

Do classes in Dentistry and Medicine continue during a strike or lockout?

Yes, classes Dentistry and Medicine would continue, but there will be some exceptions. These exceptions will be communicated directly to students registered in those classes.

Do online and off-campus classes still take place?

No. All classes taught by DFA members 鈥� both online and on-campus 鈥� would be suspended in the event of a strike or lockout. Any exceptions will be communicated ahead of a labour disruption taking place.

What about classes in the Faculty of Open Learning and Career Development?

All classes in Open Learning and Career Development would continue, including English as a Second Language courses, with the exception of Transition Year Program (TYP) classes taught by DFA members 鈥� TYP classes would be suspended.

What about classes at the University of King鈥檚 College?

Classes proceeding will be determined by program. A list of Dal-King鈥檚 suspended classes would be provided ahead of a potential labour disruption.

I鈥檓 currently enrolled in summer courses. Will my courses be impacted by a potential labour disruption?

Yes, all classes, exams, and thesis defenses overseen by DFA members would not be held in the event of a work stoppage.

Dalhousie is committed to supporting students in their academic progression and will be in touch with students registered for current summer courses directly about how a potential work stoppage would alter their exams or course timelines.

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:
  • Food service locations
  • Residence dining halls 
  • Athletic and recreational facilities
  • Campus buildings
  • The Dalhousie Bookstore
  • Student Health & Wellness Centre
  • DalCard and UPass offices
  • Registrar鈥檚 Office & Student Accounts
  • Academic and career advising
  • Student Accessibility Centre
  • Student supports centres

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 fitness facilities, the University Children鈥檚 Centre, the Dalhousie 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 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.

 

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.

 

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.

 
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.
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 .

Bargaining and labour relations

Bargaining FAQs

Are the DFA and Dalhousie administration still actively talking? Are there plans to return to the bargaining table? 

The negotiating teams are expected to meet with the conciliator at least once more before any action is taken. We remain hopeful an agreement can be reached.

 

What is the difference between a strike and a lockout?

The effect on Dalhousie 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?

The earliest a labour disruption could occur would be the week of August 11.