Dear Colleagues,
In this Update:
- UTFA Prepares for Bargaining - Bargaining Survey Reminder (closes October 9)
- Research Misconduct Investigations
- Grievances Update
- Upcoming Event: C.B. Macpherson Lecture
UTFA Prepares for Bargaining - Bargaining Survey Reminder (closes October 9)
- Help shape our priorities and strengthen our position! Complete the bargaining survey by October 9th! If you need to search for the survey in your emails, the survey was sent by faculty@utfa.org and the subject line was “UTFA Fall 2026 Bargaining Survey: Help shape our upcoming round of negotiations.” The survey will close at 5 p.m. on October 9, 2026.
- The current agreement between UTFA and the Administration expires June 30, 2027.
- Co-Chief Negotiators, Jun Nogami and Terezia Zorić, have been preparing for bargaining, which will begin this winter.
Research Misconduct Investigations
- As reported in the April 13, 2026, Council Update, UTFA has noticed an increase in members seeking assistance regarding research misconduct investigations.
- UTFA’s Leadership has raised significant violations of members’ procedural rights to the Administration, including inadequate notice of allegations; highly restrictive interim measures; inconsistent application of relevant policies; and missing oversight from appropriate administrative officials to ensure procedurally fair processes. These issues cause significant harm to members.
- UTFA Leadership met with the Administration in September and provided a list of high level proposals for policy changes to ensure members’ procedural fairness rights are protected.
- The next step in the process is for the Administration to respond to UTFA’s proposals.
Grievances Update
- Over the summer, UTFA Leadership continued to participate in mediations and hearings of individual and Association grievances.
- UTFA Leadership attended two hearing dates in September before the Grievance Review Panel regarding our grievance of the Unilateral Amendment of Divisional Guidelines on the Assessment of Effectiveness of Teaching. The parties are now waiting for a decision from the Grievance Review Panel.
- UTFA Leadership also recently attended a facilitation date on the workplace investigations protocol and a mediation day for UTFA’s pay equity grievance. Additional dates for both these matters have been scheduled in October.
- A list and description of all current association grievances can be found here.
Upcoming Event: C.B. Macpherson Lecture
- UTFA invites all members to attend the annual C.B. Macpherson Lecture, this year featuring Professor Nancy Fraser speaking on The University under Assault: A Democratic-Socialist Perspective.
- Event Details:
- Date & Time: Tuesday, October 20, 2026 at 5:30 PM (doors open at 5:00 PM)
- Location: The UTFA Office, 77 Bloor St. W, Suite 1800, Toronto, ON, M5S 1M2. A virtual option is also available for those unable to join in person.
- RSVP: Register via this link. If you join online, a Zoom link will follow after registration. Tickets are available free of charge.