Bargaining 2 Win

Bargaining 2 Win

Every three years, each of USW Local 1998’s seven bargaining units elects a bargaining committee made up of Local 1998 leadership and rank-and-file union members. The bargaining committee negotiates its unit’s next collective agreement with the employer. Click on your bargaining unit to learn more.

University of Toronto
Casual Unit
University of Toronto
Residence Dons Unit
University of Toronto
Schools Unit
University of Toronto
Staff Appointed Unit
St. Michael's College
Unit
St. Michael's College
Residence Dons Unit
Victoria University
Unit
University of Toronto
Casual Unit (UTCA)

Stay Connected

In the event of a strike or lock-out, you will lose access to your employer-provided email account. Submit your personal email address to USW Local 1998 now to ensure continued, direct communication with your union. The information you need – negotiation developments, picket line locations, strike pay, and more – direct to your inbox.

Submit My Email Address

UTCA Bargaining Committee 2026

  • Sharif Ali
  • John Ankenman
  • Heather Cherron von Atzigen
  • Rebecca Chua
  • Scott Eldridge
  • Ekua Kariuki
  • John Warwick

Review your bargaining unit’s 2023-2026 collective agreement here.

Have Your Say

  • UTCA Collective Bargaining Survey
    July 13, 2026 – August 7, 2026

  • Participate in the Bargaining Committee Nomination Meeting
    See Local 1998’s weekly e-newsletter for dates, times, and meeting information.

  • Cast Your Ballot in the Bargaining Committee Election
    See Local 1998’s weekly e-newsletter for dates, times, and voting information.

  • Attend Member Consultation Town Halls (Hybrid)
    See Local 1998’s weekly e-newsletter for dates, times, and meeting information.

  • Attend Bargaining Committee Report Back Town Halls (Hybrid)
    See Local 1998’s weekly e-newsletter for dates, times, and meeting information.

  • Cast Your Ballot in the Strike Mandate Vote
    See Local 1998’s weekly e-newsletter for dates, times, and voting information.

  • Attend Tentative Agreement Ratification Meeting (Hybrid)
    See Local 1998’s weekly e-newsletter for dates, times, and meeting information.

  • Cast Your Ballot in the Tentative Agreement Ratification Vote (Hybrid)
    See Local 1998’s weekly e-newsletter for dates, times, and voting information.
Get Involved
    • Volunteer with the Communication Action Team (CAT).
      Be a direct link between your bargaining committee and rank-and-file union members. Receive and share important collective bargaining updates and scheduled solidarity actions from your bargaining committee with your colleagues.
      Sign Up for the CAT Here
Keep Connected
  • Receive timely collective bargaining updates by text.
    Be the first to know about developments in negotiations between your bargaining committee and the University. Text casual to 32323.
  • Remain in contact in the event of a strike or lock-out.
    In the event of a strike or lock-out, you may lose access to your employer-provided email account. Submit your personal email address to USW Local 1998 now to ensure continued communication with your union.
    Provide Your Personal Email Address Here

  • Follow USW Local 1998 on social media.
    The information you need, direct to your feed.
    Facebook
    Instagram
    LinkedIn
Show Your Solidarity

Union member engagement correlates with stronger contracts. Support your bargaining committee as we negotiate your next collective agreement with the employer by showing your union solidarity in the workplace:

  • Wear your union shirts, hats, lanyards, and buttons.
  • Use your union pens, desk placards, mugs, and phone stands.
  • Upload your “Strength in Solidarity” virtual background to Teams and Zoom (download below).

Bargaining Update #1

July 9, 2026

 

INTRODUCTION
Your newly elected University of Toronto Casual Unit bargaining committee has already begun working on developing proposals for a new collective agreement for our members in the University of Toronto Casual Unit. Our current priority is to reach out to our U of T Casual Unit members to gain a better understanding of what you want us to fight for at the bargaining table with the University. This includes meeting with members at upcoming pop-ups on all three campuses as well as creating a bargaining survey. These bargaining updates are designed to let you know where we are in the process, as well as let you know how you can get involved. Please keep an eye out for them in your inbox!

BARGAINING SURVEY
We have just finalized our bargaining survey for membership to complete. This will be launched on July 13, 2026, with a response deadline of July 31, 2026.  The more members who complete this survey, the better of an idea we will have about what our members want to see in our new collective agreement. Since our U of T Casual Unit members are spread across three campuses, it would be impossible to hear all your individual priorities without this tool. Completing this survey is the best way to have your voice heard by us, so please keep an eye out for it in your inbox.

ICE CREAM POP-UPS
Over the summer, we have pop-ups scheduled across all three campuses to help members get to know their union and grab a free frozen treat! All members are welcome to come by and find out more about collective bargaining from your union reps.

📅 Date: Monday, July 13, 2026
⏰ Time: 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
📍 Campus: UTSC
📍 Location: ARC Quad (map)

📅 Date: Monday, July 20, 2026
⏰ Time: 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
📍 Campus: SMC
📍 Location: Outside Elmsley Hall on St. Mary St. (map)

📅 Date: Tuesday, July 28, 2026
⏰ Time: 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
📍 Campus: UTM
📍 Location: CCT Courtyard (map)

Stay tuned! Additional ice cream pop-up dates and locations will be announced throughout the summer.

Coming Soon

Coming Soon

University of Toronto
Staff Appointed Unit (UTSA)

Stay Connected

In the event of a strike or lock-out, you will lose access to your employer-provided email account. Submit your personal email address to USW Local 1998 now to ensure continued, direct communication with your union. The information you need – negotiation developments, picket line locations, strike pay, and more – direct to your inbox.

Submit My Email Address

UTSA Bargaining Committee 2026

  • Feyisami Adara
  • Sharif Ali
  • John Ankenman
  • Justen Bennett
  • Mary-Marta Briones-Bird
  • Aziz El Mejdouby
  • Adonica Huggins
  • Ryan Lahti
  • Rabia Nasir
  • Ruxandra Pop
  • Zack Sholdra
  • Tamara Vickery
  • Richard Waters
  • Luke Wesley
  • Debbie Yorke

Review your bargaining unit’s 2023-2026 collective agreement here.

Review your bargaining unit’s 2026-2029 tentative agreement highlights package and Memorandum of Agreement here.

The tentative agreement ratification vote will run online between September 14, 2026, at 5:30 p.m., and September 17, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eligible members will receive their tentative agreement ratification vote ballots by e-mail. If you do not receive your ballot, email info@usw1998.ca.

Have Your Say
  • UTSA Collective Bargaining Survey
    January 28, 2026 – February 10, 2026

  • Participate in the Bargaining Committee Nomination Meeting
    See Local 1998’s weekly e-newsletter for dates, times, and meeting information.
  • Cast Your Ballot in the Bargaining Committee Election
    See Local 1998’s weekly e-newsletter for dates, times, and voting information.
  • Attend Member Consultation Town Halls (Hybrid)
    See Local 1998’s weekly e-newsletter for dates, times, and meeting information.
  • Attend Bargaining Committee Report Back Town Halls (Hybrid)
    See Local 1998’s weekly e-newsletter for dates, times, and meeting information.
  • Cast Your Ballot in the Strike Mandate Vote
    See Local 1998’s weekly e-newsletter for dates, times, and voting information.
  • Attend Tentative Agreement Ratification Meeting (Hybrid)
    See Local 1998’s weekly e-newsletter for dates, times, and meeting information.
  • Cast Your Ballot in the Tentative Agreement Ratification Vote (Hybrid)
    See Local 1998’s weekly e-newsletter for dates, times, and voting information.
Get Involved
    • Volunteer with the Communication Action Team (CAT).
      Be a direct link between your bargaining committee and rank-and-file union members. Receive and share important collective bargaining updates and scheduled solidarity actions from your bargaining committee with your colleagues.
      Sign Up for the CAT Here

    • Be a Leader. Be a Picket Captain.
      Participate in a no-obligation information session about the importance of being strike-ready. Learn about strikes, lock-outs, and the vital role that picket captains play on the picket line should job action become necessary.

      Note: There are no picket captain information sessions currently scheduled. Email info@usw1998.ca for more information.

Keep Connected
  • Receive timely collective bargaining updates by text.
    Be the first to know about developments in negotiations between your bargaining committee and the University. Text 1998 sa to 32323.
  • Remain in contact in the event of a strike or lock-out.
    In the event of a strike or lock-out, you may lose access to your employer-provided email account. Submit your personal email address to USW Local 1998 now to ensure continued communication with your union.
    Provide Your Personal Email Address Here

  • Follow USW Local 1998 on social media.
    The information you need, direct to your feed.
    Facebook
    Instagram
    LinkedIn
Show Your Solidarity

Union member engagement correlates with stronger contracts. Support your bargaining committee as we negotiate your next collective agreement with the employer by showing your union solidarity in the workplace:

  • Wear your union shirts, hats, lanyards, and buttons.
  • Use your union pens, desk placards, mugs, and phone stands.
  • Upload your “Strength in Solidarity” virtual background to Teams and Zoom (download below).

Bargaining Update #1
October 24, 2025

 

Hello, U of T Staff Appointed Unit members.

 

As you know, our current collective agreement expires on June 30, 2026. At our General Membership Meeting (GMM) on October 15, 2025, we held nominations for our 2026 Bargaining Committee. A total of 17 members were nominated and accepted their nominations to serve on our 2026 Bargaining Committee. An online election for ten positions from November 8 to 12. Please make sure you take the time to review the candidates who are running for election to our 2026 Bargaining Committee and be sure to vote in the upcoming election – it is your vote that will determine who will represent you as we negotiate the terms of your next collective agreement with the University.

 

This past April, we launched our Gearing Up for Bargaining campaign. We have held divisional outreach events across the University of Toronto’s Mississauga, Scarborough, St. George, and Downsview campuses where we handed out our 2023-2026 Draft Collective Agreement and our bargaining QR code business card. We have spoken with hundreds of members about the importance of membership engagement in the bargaining process and discussed how their engagement has a direct impact on the strength of the bargaining committee and the bargaining committee’s ability to negotiate a fair collective agreement with the University. If members are not engaged in the bargaining process, we cannot put the same pressure on the University to secure improvements to our collective agreement and fend off the concessionary proposals tabled by the University.

 

In August, we launched a Workload Study to examine the impact of workload on our members. During the last round of bargaining in 2023, workload concerns were the number one non-monetary priority identified by members. The Workload Study included a survey component, which closed on October 20, 2025, and small focus groups coordinated by the lead Reacher, Dr. Adam Zendel, will be the next step. Following this, we will hear directly from Dr. Adam Zendel about how workload is impacting our membership. This will equip us with quantifiable data that will help shape our bargaining proposals in the next round of bargaining in 2026.

Just this month, we launched a payroll preference survey to determine what payroll schedule members of our unit prefer. In 2023, some members who completed the bargaining survey requested a change from our current monthly pay structure (once per month) to a semi-monthly (twice per month) or a bi-weekly (every other week) pay structure. In the 2023 round of contract negotiations with the University, our bargaining committee did not have a broadly based mandate to bargain such a significant change. This survey closes Friday, October 24, 2025, and we are aiming for 100% participation as the results will directly affect how often you receive your pay. This survey is short and will take less than a minute to complete. Please ensure that you vote to have your preference noted.

 

On October 3, 2025, the new President of the University of Toronto, Melanie Woodin sent out a memo to administrative staff at the University. The Strengthening administrative staff presence across our campuses memo indicated that the University would be taking a new direction in 2026 by “moving forward with plans to ensure that we have a critical mass of administrative staff present on our campuses five days per week (Monday to Friday), while honouring our institutional commitment to considering alternative work arrangements.” While the Union has received some clarity from the University on their plan and how it will impact our members, we have not received certainty about what this plan might look like. What we do know is that we have Alternative Work Arrangement (AWA) language in our collective agreement, which your 2023 bargaining committee fought hard for. Now is the time for us to organize and fight back on the University’s return to office (RTO) plans, whatever form they take.

 

At the October GMM, members passed a motion brought forward as a recommendation from your Local Executive Committee to spend up to $100,000 on a campaign to support Local 1998 members’ access to alternative work arrangements (AWAs) and related workplace issues such as sustainability, employment equity, and access to affordable public transit.

 

Since then, the Local has struck a steering committee for the fightback campaign against Melanie Woodin’s change in direction on AWAs. We will also be holding a virtual AWA Member Town Hall on October 31, 2025, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

 

For those of you who are in positions at the University that are not conducive to an alternative work arrangement, you may be asking, why is the Local spending so much time and money on a fight-back campaign to support members’ access to AWAs and why should I care? The answer is simple – this is not only about AWAs, this is about bargaining unit power. We need to push back on any attempt by the employer (the University) to unilaterally change the terms and conditions of our employment as outlined in our Collective Agreement. 

 

Our plan is to launch our member consultation bargaining survey in January 2026 and hold virtual Member Consultation Town Halls in February 2026 to hear directly from you about your priorities for your next collective agreement. Following these, your elected bargaining committee will review the bargaining survey results and Member Consultation Town Hall feedback, then we will report back to the membership about the bargaining priorities for the 2026 round of bargaining.

 

So now, here are a number of action items for you:

 

Sign up to be on our Communication Action Team: One reason we had so much success in the 2023 round of bargaining was because you – our members – were talking about bargaining. Your engagement with, and communication about, the 2023 round of bargaining ensured that your colleagues knew about Bargaining Updates from your bargaining committee, attended Member Town Halls, completed member consultation surveys, wore and displayed their union solidarity items, and understood the importance of getting involved in the bargaining process.

 

Sign up for Picket Captain Training: The best way to avoid a strike is to be prepared for one. Picket Captain training will be held twice on Friday, November 7: 9am to 12pmand 2pm to 5pm (register for one timeslot). Picket Captain Training will be offered again in early 2026.

 

Attend a ‘Gearing up for Bargaining’ divisional outreach meeting: https://www.usw1998.ca/calendar/

 

Attend the AWA Town Hall on October 31, 2025, at 12:00 p.m.

Vote in the November 8, 2025, to November 12, 2025, election to elect the members of your 2026 bargaining committee

Keep up to date on all things bargaining by checking our bargaining website

 

Your involvement in the bargaining process can make a real impact right now and through the 2026 round of bargaining. Together we can build on the power and momentum we already have from 2023 and put pressure on the University to bargain a fair contract in 2026.

 

If you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions, please contact info@usw1998.ca with the subject line 2026 Staff-Appointed Unit Bargaining.

 

We may have a fight on our hands for the 2026 round of bargaining but given what we accomplished together in the last round of bargaining, I know we are ready for that fight!

In solidarity,

 

Tamara Vickery (she/her)

Vice-President & Staff Appointed Unit President

USW Local 1998

USW Local 1998 Fair Wages Fair Workplaces Fair Future

Bargaining Update #2
January 13, 2026


Hello, U of T Staff Appointed Unit members.


Our 2026 Staff Appointed Negotiating Committee has been struck and has already met to begin preparations for the upcoming round of negotiations.


I would like to congratulate the members who were elected to serve on the Staff Appointed Negotiating Committee. And a big thank you to all members who were nominated for the negotiation committee and who stood for election and to those members who cast their vote to elect our 2026 Staff Appointed Negotiating Committee. Everyone’s participation in this process signals a strong sense of solidarity amongst the membership and a united front to the University.


Broadly speaking, bargaining consists of three major phases:

  1. Consultation with the membership, Grievance Officers, health & safety representatives, Chief Stewards, Stewards and standing committee members to identify priorities for this round of negotiations
  2. Reporting back the priorities identified by the negotiation committee for this round of bargaining as identified by the membership
  3. Negotiation committee preparation of bargaining proposals to exchange with the employer


Consultation with the membership


Surveys:


USW Local 1998 Union Survey focused on Hybrid Working Arrangements. The purpose of this survey is to gather detailed information about remote working arrangements among University of Toronto support staff. The results will be used by your union to better understand members’ working conditions and to support evidence-based proposals when we enter collective bargaining. Our aim is to launch this to the membership on January 13, 2026.


USW Local 1998 membership bargaining priorities survey for members of the University of Toronto Staff-Appointed Unit. The results of this survey will help determine bargaining priorities for this round of negotiations. Our aim is to launch this to the membership on January 28, 2026. It will close on February 10, 2026.


It is highly encouraged that every member completes the Hybrid Working Arrangements Survey and the Membership Bargaining Priorities Survey, so YOUR bargaining priorities are documented. Your bargaining committee needs to hear from you about what is important to you during this round of contract negotiations, so please fill out the survey and don’t let others speak for you.


Town Hall Meetings:


We will host four hybrid Consultation Town Hall Meetings, which are scheduled for early February. These Town Hall Meetings will be held in person and via Zoom. Locations, dates and zoom links will be provided in one of the Local’s upcoming newsletters. To manage these hybrid Town Halls more efficiently, we will NOT be monitoring the Zoom chat and cannot confirm the accuracy of information within the Zoom chat feature. Members are encouraged to ask their questions and/or make comments by either raising their hand or, if they are on Zoom, by raising their virtual hand to get on the speakers list. And as always, should you have any questions, comments or suggestions you can email bargaining@usw1998.ca


Reporting Back to the Membership:


In March, we will hold report back Town Hall Meetings in a similar fashion to those being held as part of the Consultation Phase. During these meetings, we will be presenting:

  • The information gathered by your elected negotiating committee through research of other public education bargaining wins in recent months
  • Bargaining priorities identified through the grievance process and on the health & safety front
  • Bargaining priorities identified by you via the membership surveys and through other means of consultation.


Lastly, we would like to highlight the need for members to volunteer for our Communication Action Team (CAT). The CAT is a team of members throughout the staff-appointed membership community who will receive regular direct updates from the Bargaining Committee and will in turn spread the word within the workplace. We know that this is an effective bargaining tool to keep members informed and engaged. Having a bargaining update come in person from a fellow worker can help keep this important process front of mind for our members who may not otherwise receive our bargaining update emails. Members of the CAT will also help spread the news about upcoming solidarity events. We know that the more engaged our membership is in the bargaining process, the stronger your Bargaining Committee will be at the table.


>>> Sign up to be on our Communication Action Team


>>> Keep up to date by checking our bargaining website


If there are topics you would like to see covered in future bargaining updates, please contact bargaining@usw1998.ca.

In solidarity,

 

Tamara Vickery (she/her)

Vice-President & Staff Appointed Unit President

USW Local 1998

USW Local 1998 Fair Wages Fair Workplaces Fair Future

Bargaining Update #3
January 27, 2026

 

Hello, U of T Staff Appointed Unit members.


I hope everyone is finding a way to embrace this blast of winter we are experiencing!


The Hybrid Working Arrangements Survey is still open and we are encouraging those who have not completed the survey to do so as soon as possible. Members who have had hybrid work arrangements AND members who have NOT had hybrid work arrangements are all encouraged to complete the survey. Your participation is crucial to our understanding of the distribution of hybrid and onsite work amongst the membership. Similarly, the Open Letter to the University of Toronto’s President Melanie Woodin, while addressing hybrid work, is ultimately about protecting all of our collective rights and entitlements under our collective agreement.  Even if the University’s decision to decrease or eliminate members’ rights to hybrid work arrangements does not directly affect you, we all need to participate in this unified fight back on any attempt to erode our collective rights.


Tomorrow, we will be launching our U of T Staff-Appointed Unit membership bargaining priorities survey in Local 1998’s e-newsletter. The results of this survey will guide your elected negotiating committee as they determine bargaining priorities for this round of contract negotiations with the employer. The bargaining priorities survey will close on February 10, 2026. Spread the word and have YOUR workplace concerns and YOUR bargaining priorities heard.


Stay tuned for information about our upcoming Town Hall Meetings. 


Sign up to be on the Communication Action Team


Keep up to date by checking our bargaining website


If there are topics that you would like to see covered in future bargaining updates, please contact bargaining@usw1998.ca.

In solidarity,

 

Tamara Vickery (she/her)

Vice-President & Staff Appointed Unit President

USW Local 1998

USW Local 1998 Fair Wages Fair Workplaces Fair Future

Bargaining Update #4

April 8, 2026


Hello, U of T Staff Appointed Unit members.


Your participation in the bargaining survey, town halls, and through the Bargaining Committee e-mail (bargaining@usw1998.ca) have helped your Bargaining Committee determine what your priorities are for the 2026 round of bargaining. Thank you for all the concerns, observations, and experiences you’ve shared so far and everything you’ll continue to share with us through this process!


Your Bargaining Committee reviews every single survey response, town hall question, and e-mail sent to us. We consider language proposals for concerns that are widely felt by many members, as well as concerns which are deeply felt by a few members. Everything you share with your committee is taken seriously and considered.


At the recent report-back town halls, Tamara Vickery, our Staff-Appointed Unit President, shared the non-monetary priorities you identified. These include:

  • Job Security
  • Work-life Balance
  • Stress and Mental Well-Being
  • Accommodations
  • Civility, Discrimination, and Harassment


These are just broad categories under which many individual priorities are grouped, such as organizational change, Alternative Work Arrangements (AWAs), workload, and several others. We look forward to sharing more about what you’ve told us regarding your monetary priorities soon.


We are continuing our targeted consultation sessions with members. Coming up on Thursday, April 30th from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m., we are looking forward to a virtual consultation session with members who have disabilities and members who have experience with the accommodation process at the University of Toronto.


We are also looking forward to reviewing the results of the Workload and AWA surveys to complement the information you’ve shared with us so far. Dr. Adam Zendell will be presenting the results in two upcoming town halls:

 

Workload Town Hall

Tuesday, May 12th from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

Virtual (Zoom)

 

Hybrid Work Town Hall

Thursday, June 11th from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

Virtual (Zoom)

This week, your bargaining committee also selected the slogan that will be at the forefront of our bargaining campaign:


Fair Wages. Fair Workplaces. Fair Future.

We’re grateful to members of the Communication Action Team (CAT) for their many slogan submissions.

Your Bargaining Committee’s next steps are to take all your ideas, feedback and priorities, and begin developing bargaining proposals. Your ongoing engagement through town halls, e-mails, and other channels is critical to our collective success. Every time you show up or speak out, every time you speak with your coworkers about bargaining, every time you wear and display your USW gear, you strengthen the power of your bargaining committee and increase the pressure on the employer. This collective momentum is what drives real gains, so your participation matters now more than ever.

 

Here’s how you can get involved:

We look forward to our next update and seeing you at future town halls!

In solidarity,

 

Tamara Vickery (she/her)

Vice-President & Staff Appointed Unit President

USW Local 1998

USW Local 1998 Fair Wages Fair Workplaces Fair Future

Bargaining Update #5

May 13, 2026


Hello, U of T Staff Appointed Unit members.


Your bargaining committee has been meeting regularly to draft non-monetary proposals to exchange with the University in June 2026.  The non-monetary priorities, as identified by you, include, but are not limited to:

  • Job security
  • Work-life balance
  • Hybrid Alternative Work Arrangements (AWAs) and flexible hours of work
  • Improvements to the accommodation process
  • Improvements to the complaints process


We have also heard from many of you who do not have hybrid or remote work arrangements due to the nature of your position and job duties. You have shared the costs associated with travelling to campus(es) each and every day, and the staggering amount of time this takes away from achieving a better work-life balance. We are actively preparing to fight for these issues at the bargaining table.


Our Hybrid Work Fight Back Campaign continues, and your involvement matters now more than ever.  We need to show the University administration that all of us are in this fight together. Without that solidarity, we will not be able to apply the pressure needed at the bargaining table to fight for hybrid work and the other non-monetary priorities noted above.


To date we have filed 17 policy grievances across various divisions challenging the University’s arbitrary changes to hybrid work policies. In grievance meetings with management, the Local’s grievance officers are busy presenting our arguments as to why the diminishing of hybrid work is a violation of our collective agreement.  Your bargaining committee is hard at work developing bargaining proposals related to hybrid work and other key priorities identified in consultation with you. 


Hundreds of members attended the Workload Town Hall yesterday; let’s keep that momentum going! Here are some upcoming events which you can participate in to show your solidarity:

 

Hybrid Work Town Hall
Thursday, June 11th from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Virtual (Zoom)

Zoom link in e-newsletter

 

Monetary Priorities Report Back Town Hall
June 26 and July 8 – more details to come
Virtual (Zoom)

Zoom link in e-newsletter

 

Summer Socials

Register for your event ticket via the link in your e-newsletter.

  • June 2 at UTSC
  • June 10 at Union Hall (UTSG)
  • June 18 at UTM
  • June 23 at UTIAS

 

Ice-Cream Pop Ups

  • June 24 outside the Dentistry Building at UTSG
  • July 7 on Devonshire Place at UTSG
  • + many more dates throughout July and August

 

Here’s how you can get involved:

Join the Communication Action Team

Attend Picket Captain training (upcoming dates to follow)

Send your ideas, feedback and suggestions to the Hybrid Work Campaign steering committee

Submit ideas, feedback and suggestions to your bargaining committee

In solidarity,

 

Tamara Vickery (she/her)

Vice-President & Staff Appointed Unit President

USW Local 1998

USW Local 1998 Fair Wages Fair Workplaces Fair Future

Bargaining Update #6
June 15, 2026

 

Hello, U of T Staff Appointed Unit members.

 

This Wednesday, June 17, 2026, your bargaining committee will be meeting with the employer for the first time in this round of negotiations. We will be putting forward proposals to address the non-monetary priorities (things that don’t cost the university money) identified by all of you throughout the past few months of consultations.

 

Key to the fight this year is addressing job security, working to improve accommodations and complaints processes, and addressing concerns around work-life balance, including flexible hours of work and hybrid work arrangements.

 

Join me at 5:15pm on Wednesday via Zoom for an update immediately following our first bargaining session and a briefing on how you can continue to get involved. Your engagement is crucial to building our collective power and winning strong improvements in our contract.

 

Ready to take action? 

 

Join the Bargaining Briefing on June 17, 2026, at 5:15 p.m.

Meeting ID: 843 6488 3456

Passcode: 875027

 

RSVP to the Hybrid Work Rally on June 24, 2026, at 12:00 p.m.

 

Join the Communication Action Team (CAT)

 

Save the dates for our first monetary priorities town halls on June 26, 2026, and July 8, 2026, at 12:00 p.m.

In solidarity,

 

Tamara Vickery (she/her)

Vice-President & Staff Appointed Unit President

USW Local 1998

USW Local 1998 Fair Wages Fair Workplaces Fair Future

Bargaining Update #7

August 5, 2026

 

Hello, everyone.

 

I hope you are enjoying the summer and had a chance to take some time off and recharge!

 

Your elected negotiating committee has met with the University in June and July and have provided the University with our non-monetary bargaining proposals based on the priorities identified by you.

 

Our next table date with the University is this coming Monday, August 17, but we need your help. Your elected bargaining committee’s power comes from you!

 

Building Bargaining Power

The non-monetary priorities identified by you and the proposals your elected bargaining committee have tabled to the University, aim to address the following:

  • Job security, including retraining options and the introduction of AI protections
  • Workload and the resultant unpaid overtime that you all do
  • Fighting back on the erosion of our alternative work arrangement language in our collective agreement and more specifically hybrid work
  • A more humane and timelier accommodation process for members who require workplace accommodations
  • A more accountable investigation process for members who face incivility, harassment and discrimination in the workplace

The University will not hand over these improvements without pressure and that pressure comes from your engagement!

 

A Call for Your Engagement

On Monday, August 17, we are asking each and every one of you to wear your lime green bargaining swag (lanyards, fandanas/buffs, bucket hats and bags) in the workplace. This visible representation of solidarity will signal to the University that the 6000+ members of the Staff-Appointed Unit are serious about improvements and gains in this round of bargaining and that we are not interested in concessionary proposals. The 12 members you elected to serve on the 2026 negotiating committee will not have the power to accomplish this without your participation, support and engagement in the bargaining process.

 

On this same day, the Local Union will be disseminating our Workload and Hybrid Work Studies to PM’s, Deans, Directors and VP’s. We have already collected over 300 email addresses for this purpose, but we need more! Sending these studies and a letter outlining our bargaining priorities for this round of negotiations will further our coalition building. We have already seen many PM level managers and directors support Local 1998 staff appointed negotiations, because whatever we achieve as a bargaining unit in this round of negotiations will directly correlate to what they get and so they have a vested interest in our success.

 

Actions for You

  1. Provide your manager’s contact to ensure they receive a preview of our bargaining proposals and our Workload and Hybrid Work studies.
  2. Wear your Fair Wages, Fair Workplaces, Fair Future neon green bargaining solidarity swag on Monday, August 17 to show your bargaining committee support and the University you are serious about gains this round of bargaining.
  3. Tag photos of you and your colleagues wearing your solidarity swag on our Instagram and Facebook pages.

 

Strike Mandate Vote

 

As with previous rounds of bargaining, we are planning for our Strike Deadline to coincide with the first day of classes. Our tentative Strike Deadline as 12:01am on September 8. While your bargaining committee is negotiating and you are showing your participation, engagement and our collective strength, John and I along with our Strike Committee are actively planning out strike logistics. The best way to avoid a strike is to be prepared for one. If the University knows we are strike ready, they are less likely to put forward concessionary proposals and bargain a fair contract. The bargaining committee is committed to bargaining the best possible deal for us but another source of power for the bargaining committee is a strong strike mandate vote. This is achieved two ways:

  1. Through your vote in the Strike Mandate vote. In 2023 we had over 4,000 members patriciate in the strike mandate vote, a historic high number of ballots cast. The number of members who vote in the strike mandate vote is in and of itself a source of power and for this round we are looking for 100% participation – your contract depends on it. Our Strike Mandate Vote will be held online only through Simply Voting. You will receive a unique URL to your utoronto email address to cast your vote. Strike Mandate Vote will commence Thursday, August 27 at 10am and will close on Monday, August 31 at 11:59pm.
  2. Casting a YES vote in the strike mandate vote. Casting a YES vote does not mean we will go on strike but is a source of power by telling the University that you are willing to engage in job action up to and including a strike if necessary. A strong strike mandate vote along with high voter participation will give your elected bargaining power to negotiate for fair wages, fair workplaces and a fair future of all of us.

 

More Actions for You

 

Sign up for picket captain training and help us get strike ready so we can leverage our power at the bargaining table to negotiate a fair contract. Click below to register for one of our online picket captain information sessions:

 

Provide your personal email address and cell phone number. If the University does not bargain fairly and if we were pushed out on strike or locked out by the employer, we will not be able to contact you. Having your personal email address and cell phone number will allow you to stay informed.

 

Please check out our bargaining web page for ways you can get involved and learn more about our UNION 101 series which is aimed at building member efficacy in the bargaining process. Be sure to sign up for the Communication Action Team (CAT) to help build our power and ensure your bargaining committee has the best possible platform to bargain from.

With much appreciation and gratitude,


Tamara Vickery (she/her)

Vice-President & Staff Appointed Unit President

USW Local 1998

USW Local 1998 Fair Wages Fair Workplaces Fair Future

Bargaining Update #8

August 25, 2026

 

Hello, everyone.

 

Today’s union solidarity ice cream pop-up outside The Conference Centre was a tremendous success, with more than 250 members coming out to show their support for our elected bargaining committee. This event was scheduled strategically at The Conference Centre on a day when the Union and the University would be inside negotiating our next collective agreement, and the strong member turnout sent a clear message to the employer: We are engaged, we are united, and we expect FAIR WAGES, FAIR WORKPLACES and a FAIR FUTURE.

 

During a break in negotiations, our bargaining committee joined the ice cream pop-up outdoors to speak with members about ongoing contract negotiations and the powerful impact of member engagement on the bargaining process.

 
Thank you to everyone who came out and helped make today’s event such a success. This is what solidarity looks like!
 
Upcoming Events

 

📅 Date: Thursday, August 27, 2026
⏰ Time: 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
📍 Campus: University of Toronto Schools
📍 Location: Bloor St. / Huron St. Laneway (map)
📍 Nearest Building: University of Toronto Schools (FE)

📅 Date: Monday, August 31, 2026
⏰ Time: 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
📍 Campus: University of Toronto St. George Campus
📍 Location: Willcocks St. / St. George St. (map)
📍 Nearest Building: Sidney Smith Hall (SS)

 

Strike Mandate Vote

 

Our strike deadline is 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, September 8, 2026. As in previous rounds of bargaining, we are planning for our strike deadline to coincide with the first day of classes.

 

While your bargaining committee is negotiating and you are showing your engagement and our collective strength, John and I, along with our Strike Committee, are actively planning out strike logistics. The best way to avoid a strike is to be prepared for one. If the University knows we are strike ready, they are less likely to insist on concessions and they are more likely to bargain a fair contract. The USW bargaining committee is committed to negotiating the best possible deal for us, but they need the University to know that the bargaining unit’s membership supports their negotiating team. This is achieved two ways:

 

  1. Your participation in the strike mandate vote. In 2023 we had over 4,000 members patriciate in the strike mandate vote, which was a historic high number of ballots cast. The number of members who vote in the strike mandate vote is in and of itself a source of power and for this round of bargaining we are looking for 100% participation – your contract depends on it. Our strike mandate vote will be held online only through Simply Voting. You will receive a unique URL in your utoronto email account that will allow you to cast your vote. The strike mandate vote will begin on Thursday, August 27, at 10:00 a.m. and will end on Monday, August 31, at 11:59 p.m.

  2. Your YES vote in the strike mandate vote. Casting a YES vote does not mean we will go on strike; it is a source of power. Your YES vote tells the University that you are willing to engage in job action up to and including a strike if necessary. A strong strike mandate vote, along with high voter participation, gives your elected bargaining committee power to negotiate for fair wages, fair workplaces, and a fair future of all of us.
Strike Vote FAQ

Management watches closely to see how mobilized union members are during contract negotiations. If members are apathetic and disconnected, the University will know that the Union doesn’t have the ability to organize an effective job action if one becomes necessary. A strong strike mandate tells management that our members care about collective bargaining.

 

Learn More

USW Local 1998’s Strike Vote FAQ (PDF)

Job Action & Strike FAQ

Job action can take many forms in addition to a traditional strike. Job action is any concerted activity designed to give your elected bargaining committee leverage at the bargaining table during contract negotiations: a work-to-rule effort; a universal or department-by-department organized work slowdown; or other tactics designed to restrict output and maximize impact.

 

Learn More

USW Local 1998’s Job Action & Strike FAQ (PDF)

With much appreciation and gratitude,


Tamara Vickery (she/her)

Vice-President & Staff Appointed Unit President

USW Local 1998

USW Local 1998 Fair Wages Fair Workplaces Fair Future

Bargaining Update #9

September 1, 2026

We did it!

In our bargaining unit’s 2023 strike mandate vote, we saw an unprecedented number of members cast ballots in favour of a strike mandate.

In our bargaining unit’s 2026 strike mandate vote, which was held online from Thursday, August 27 through Monday, August 31, we exceeded our previous record! 4,614 U of T Staff-Appointed Unit members cast ballots, representing 75.1% of eligible voters. What’s more, 96% of voters cast ballots in support of a strike mandate. Those numbers in and of themselves send a powerful message to the University: We are united, we are strong, and we are serious about achieving measurable gains in this round of negotiations. We expect improvements to our collective agreement and we will fight back against the University’s concessionary proposals.

Strike Mandate Vote Results

  • Number of ballots in favour of a strike mandate
    4430 (96.0%)
  • Number of ballots opposed to a strike mandate
    184 (4.0%)
  • Total number of ballots cast
    4614 (75.1% of eligible voters)


When our members turn out in force for a strike mandate vote, the University knows that the Union could mobilize an effective job action if your elected negotiating committee deems it necessary to do so. In turn, the University is more likely to negotiate with the Union for better pay, better benefits, and better working conditions for our members.

 

And turn out in record-breaking force you did.

We did it. Every member who cast a ballot, every member who reminded a colleague to vote – you did it. Union members engaging and mobilizing other members – that is strength in solidarity. That is our power. You are the power.

Your overwhelming vote in favour of a strike mandate has positioned your elected negotiating committee well to:

  • pressure the employer to agree to contract improvements as we negotiate our non-monetary and monetary proposals
  • fight back against the University’s concessionary demands


We are fighting for fair wages, fair workplaces, and a fair future for all!

We remain resolved to continue to fight for your priorities: Job security, AI protections, workload issues, Alternative Work Arrangement (AWA) improvements, workplace accommodation improvements, employer investigation process improvements, as well as increases in wages and benefits.

The University of Toronto and USW Local 1998 continue to negotiate the terms of your next collective agreement – 12+ hour days every day this week and through the Labour Day weekend, we will be at the bargaining table. We remain hopeful that these discussions between the University and the Union will be productive.

 

Bargaining Update Member Town Hall
In order to ensure that our bargaining unit’s members are informed about the progress of contract negotiations before the long weekend, your elected negotiating committee will hold a bargaining update member town hall via Zoom on Thursday, September 3, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Member Town Hall
U of T Staff-Appointed Unit


Date: Thursday, September 3, 2026
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.


Please see the Union’s September 1, 2026, e-newsletter for the Zoom link, meeting ID, and passcode.

Strike Deadline
Our strike deadline is Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. If contract negotiations with the employer continue to be productive, your elected negotiating committee may agree to continue bargaining past the strike deadline. If there are any sticking points or contentious issues that the employer will not compromise in the days ahead, we will let you know.

 

Strike Preparedness
In the event of a strike or lock-out, you will lose access to your employer-provided email account. If you have not done so already, submit your personal email address to USW Local 1998 to ensure continued, direct communication with your union. The information you need – negotiation developments, picket line locations, strike pay, and more – direct to your inbox. You can also sign-up to receive bargaining updates via text by texting 1998 sa to 32323.

 

I am so incredibly proud of our bargaining unit and your engagement with the bargaining process. With mere minutes before the polls closed, members were still casting ballots in support of a record-breaking strike mandate. Your elected negotiating committee asked, and you answered our call to action.

 

We are 6,000 strong. Our Local’s strength comes from your engagement. YOU ARE THE UNION!

In solidarity,

 

Tamara Vickery (she/her)

Vice-President & Staff Appointed Unit President

USW Local 1998

USW Local 1998 Fair Wages Fair Workplaces Fair Future

Bargaining Update #10

September 3, 2026

 

Hello, everyone.

 

After two months of negotiations with the university, your elected negotiating committee continues to work hard to secure a fair collective agreement that reflects the contract priorities identified by our members. We met with the employer every day last week and this week, and we plan to continue meeting with them through the Labour Day long weekend.

 

We are fighting for your rights, and while there has been some progress at the bargaining table, the union and the university remain divided on several key issues identified by our members as priorities, including job security, AI protections, and hybrid work. The union is also seeking recognition of our members’ significantly heavy workloads; improvements to the workplace accommodation process for employees with disabilities; and greater accountability and timeline adherence on the part of the employer in workplace investigations. Other top negotiation priorities include across-the-board wage increases that keep pace with the rising cost of living and improvements to our health care benefit package.

 

These outstanding issues will require continued pressure and a strong, united membership to resolve. Your negotiating committee remains committed to bargaining in good faith and will keep you informed as negotiations with the university continue through the long weekend.

Call to Action: Work-to-Contract

 

On Friday, September 4, 2026, USW Local 1998 and your elected negotiating committee are calling on our U of T Staff-Appointed Unit members to participate in a work-to-contract action. This means performing your duties exactly as required by our collective agreement, employer policies, and applicable procedures – nothing more and nothing less.

  • ARRIVAL: Arrive at work on time; don’t start early.
  • MORNING BREAK: Take your full 15-minute paid morning break.
  • LUNCH: Take your full one-hour lunch break.
  • AFTERNOON BREAK: Take your full 15-minute paid afternoon break.
  • DEPARTURE: Leave work on time; don’t work late without pay.

Don’t work unpaid overtime.
Don’t work through your breaks.
Don’t volunteer for additional duties beyond what is required of your position.
 
Work-to-contract is a lawful and organized way for USW Local 1998 members to show the employer that we are strong, we are united, and we are serious about achieving a fair collective agreement.

Tell your colleagues.

Stand in solidarity.

Now is our moment, Staff-Appointed Unit members! Let’s show the employer who has the power!

 

—
Note: If implementing a strict ‘work-to-contract’ program in your role could potentially put the health and safety of those you service at risk, the union recommends that you only work-to-contract to the extent possible while ensuring the health and safety of those you service. Questions? Please contact info@usw1998.ca.

Strike Deadline

 

Our strike deadline is Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. This only means that the USW Local 1998 U of T Staff-Appointed Unit is in a legal strike position at that time. We could take strike action if it is deemed necessary by your elected negotiating committee. It does not mean that we are on strike. It also does not mean that going on strike is inevitable.

If contract negotiations with the employer continue to be productive, your elected negotiating committee may agree to continue bargaining past the strike deadline.

If there continues to be sticking points or contentious issues on which the university will not compromise in the days ahead, we have several options for job action:

  • Continued work-to-contract action
  • Strategic work slowdowns
  • Rotating strikes
  • A full strike

What You Need to Know Now

 

  1. On Tuesday, come in to work as usual. Unless and until you hear otherwise from USW Local 1998, Tuesday, September 8th is a regular workday. Remember, a strike deadline only means that we are in a legal strike position; it does not mean that we are on strike.

  2. Stay connected. In the event of a strike or lock-out, you will lose access to your employer-provided email account. If you have not done so already, submit your personal email address to your union now. The information you need – negotiation developments, picket line locations, strike pay, and more – will be delivered direct to your inbox.

  3. Check your inbox. You will receive an email update from the U of T Staff-Appointed Unit President late in the evening on Monday, September 7th or early in the morning on Tuesday, September 8th. This email will indicate whether a tentative agreement has been reached and whether job action is required.

  4. Be prepared to sign up for shifts on the picket line. If we take strike action, members are expected to report for picket duty. If we take strike action, you will receive a link from the union to register for your preferred picket shift dates, times, and locations. If we take strike action, picket lines will run on all three campuses, and you must report for picket duty to receive strike pay. (Contact info@usw1998.ca if we take strike action and you require an accommodation for disability-related reasons.)

  5. If we take strike action, how much is strike pay? If we take strike action, strike pay begins after the second week (day 15). This means that the strike must last at least 15 days in order for members to receive strike pay for reporting for picketing duty. After the second week (day 15) of strike action, strike pay is $140.00 minimum per striker, per week. After the third week (day 22) of strike action, strike pay is $340.00 minimum per striker, per week.

  6. If we take strike action, what happens to our extended health care benefits? Benefits will remain in place through the month of September, as we pre-pay for benefits.

  7. If we take strike action, can I choose not to participate? Can I continue to work on campus? Can I just work remotely? If we take strike action, do not assume that you can simply cross the picket line and continue to work in-person or remotely. If you are considering crossing the picket line and continue to work in-person or remotely, please contact info@usw1998.ca to obtain specific guidance about your situation before doing so. If the employer has instructed you to continue working in-person or remotely, contact info@usw1998.ca immediately for direction.

Frequently Asked Questions


  1. Members have limited information about how contract negotiations are going and what issues are on the bargaining table. Why should I support my elected bargaining committee? Collective bargaining involves an ongoing exchange of contact proposals between the union and the employer, and the union cannot always disclose the details of every proposal while negotiations are underway. Doing so could create a situation in which the union is negotiating with its members as well as the university simultaneously, which would be divisive and undermine our ability to negotiate effectively with the employer.

  2. Why are you only bargaining for hybrid work? What about those of us who can’t work remotely? Unequivocally, we are not only bargaining for hybrid work. We are fighting for all our members’ rights. Through a bargaining survey, member town hall meetings, months of member outreach events on all three campuses, and emails sent directly from members to your elected negotiating committee, the following issues are some of the bargaining priorities identified by our members: across-the-board wage increases, health care benefit package improvements, AI protections, alternative work arrangements (including hybrid work), job security, workload, the workplace accommodation process, and the workplace investigation process. Hybrid work is getting a lot of attention because we already have language in our collective agreement that supports it. The concern is that the employer is now violating a contract provision that was previously negotiated and agreed to in the 2023 round of collective bargaining by both the union and the employer. This fight back is much bigger than working from home. Understand that if the employer unilaterally changes language in our collective agreement – language that was previously negotiated and agreed to in 2023 – and the union does not fight back, there is nothing to stop the employer from doing the same with other parts of our collective agreement. Could the university decide to change your vacation entitlements? Your working hours? Your family care options? Your seniority rights? Could the university decide to change or eliminate other negotiated and agreed-to rights and entitlements because they decide that they no longer like the existing language in our collective agreement? That could happen, and that is what we are fighting back against. We are fighting for the principle that a collective agreement is a negotiated, legally-binding contract between the union and the employer that both sides must respect and adhere to. We absolutely recognize that not every job can be done remotely, and that our members in those jobs also deserve to have their issues and concerns addressed at the bargaining table. We are raising your issues and concerns at the bargaining table. This fight is about protecting the rights of all workers covered by our collective agreement, not just our members whose jobs can be done remotely.

  3. If we were to go on strike, is there a ‘cooling off’ period? No. There is no ‘cooling off’ period, or break between when a strike is called and when we would actually take strike action.

  4. My manager is asking me if I (personally) will be going on strike if my union goes on strike. What should I do? Your manager should not be asking you that question. If they do ask you that question, you are not required to provide an answer. The union has notified University of Toronto Labour Relations that it has received multiple reports of managers asking this question of our members. Labour Relations indicated that they agree that it is inappropriate for managers to ask the question and Labour Relations stated that they would arrange for a memo to be sent to University staff in management positions that addresses the issue. If your manager asks you if you will be going on strike if your union goes on strike, contact info@usw1998.ca for direction.

  5. Should members of other bargaining units (e.g. U of T Casual Unit) continue to come in to work if the U of T Staff-Appointed Unit goes on strike? Should members of other bargaining units cover for their striking Staff-Appointed Unit colleagues? If the U of T Staff-Appointed Unit takes job action, members of other bargaining units (e.g. U of T Casual Unit) should continue to report to work as usual. However, these members should not be used by management to replace or cover the work of their Staff-Appointed Unit colleagues. Contact info@usw1998.ca for direction if (a) you are a Staff-Appointed Unit member who is aware that members of other bargaining units are covering your work during a job action, or (b) you are a member of another bargaining unit (e.g. U of T Casual Unit) who has been directed to cover for your striking Staff-Appointed Unit colleague during a job action.

  6. I am a U of T Staff-Appointed Unit member who also works a second job in a U of T Casual Unit role. Is it crossing the picket line to continue to work my Casual Unit job during a job action? No, it would not be considered crossing the picket line for a member who holds positions in both the U of T Staff-Appointed Unit and the U of T Casual Unit to continue reporting for their Casual Unit job during a Staff-Appointed Unit strike.

  7. What if I have vacation days scheduled during a strike? Do I still get paid for my vacation days? Yes, you will still get paid for your vacation days if your vacation is requested and approved before a strike is called.

In solidarity,

 

Tamara Vickery (she/her)

Vice-President & Staff Appointed Unit President

USW Local 1998

John Ankenman (he/him)

President & Victoria University Unit President

USW Local 1998

USW Local 1998 Fair Wages Fair Workplaces Fair Future

Bargaining Update #11

September 6, 2026

 

Hello, everyone.
 
Given the media attention that our strike deadline has garnered, we felt it was important to provide an update in advance of when the next one was scheduled to be released. 
 
Your elected bargaining committee is in active bargaining with the University and negotiations are progressing. We remain far apart on high-priority issues such as job security, hybrid work and across-the-board wage increases. Your bargaining committee has been working very long hours. We worked until 3:00 a.m. this morning and we were excited to return to negotiations after a few hours of sleep. We will continue bargaining this evening and into tomorrow.
 
As promised, we will provide another update tomorrow night, Monday, September 7th, or early the following morning, Tuesday, September 8th.
 
The U of T Staff-Appointed Unit’s strike deadline is 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, September 8, 2026. Unless and until you hear otherwise from USW Local 1998, Tuesday, September 8th is a regular work day and you should come into work as usual. Remember, a strike deadline only means that we are in a legal strike position; it does not mean that we are on strike.
 
We remain hopeful that the University will address our priorities and that negotiations will continue to be productive. 
 
We hope that you will attend the Labour Day Parade on Monday to celebrate working people and organized labour! Each Local 1998 member who arrives at United Steelworkers Hall on Monday between 8:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. and participates in the march is eligible to receive a Steelworkers jacket and free entrance to the CNE on September 7th. For more information, see Local 1998’s September 4th e-newsletter.

In solidarity,

 

Your elected negotiating committee

USW Local 1998 Fair Wages Fair Workplaces Fair Future

Bargaining Update #12

September 8, 2026

 

Hello, everyone.

 

Now in our third month of collective bargaining with the University, the Union continues to advocate for a fair collective agreement for our U of T Staff-Appointed Unit, a collective agreement that addresses the contract priorities identified by our members. Your elected negotiating committee met with the employer through the Labour Day long weekend and are still at the bargaining table as of this update.

 

We have extended our strike deadline to 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, September 10, 2026.

 

As we communicated last week in Bargaining Update #10, the U of T Staff-Appointed Unit had a strike deadline of Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. As we have also stated, your bargaining committee has been open to the possibility of extending the strike deadline if a tentative agreement was not reached by the deadline but there was some progress still being made in negotiations with the University.

 

A tentative agreement has not been reached, but some progress is still being made. Given that, The Union and the University have signed an agreement that extends the strike deadline to 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, September 10, 2026.

 

Members of the U of T Staff-Appointed Unit should report to work on Tuesday, September 8, 2026. Your elected negotiating committee remains committed to bargaining in good faith and will issue further updates as bargaining continues to develop.

 

Top 3 Things to Know Right Now

 

  1. On Tuesday, September 8th, report to work as usual.  Remember, a strike deadline only means that we are in a legal strike position; it does not mean that we are on strike.

  2. We have several options for job action. If there continue to be sticking points or contentious issues on which the University will not compromise, your elected bargaining committee may consider work-to-contract job action, strategic work slowdowns, rotating strikes, or a full strike.

  3. Check your inbox. You will receive another email update from the U of T Staff-Appointed Unit President on Tuesday, September 8th. 

 

Stay Connected
In the event of a strike or lock-out, you will lose access to your employer-provided email account. Submit your personal email address to USW Local 1998 now to ensure continued, direct communication with your union. The information you need – negotiation developments, picket line locations, strike pay, and more – direct to your inbox.

 

Thank you for your continued patience, solidarity, and support.

In solidarity,

 

Your elected negotiating committee

USW Local 1998 Fair Wages Fair Workplaces Fair Future

Bargaining Update #13

September 8, 2026

 

Dear Staff Appointed Unit Members:

 

After three months of negotiations, including intensive bargaining over the Labour Day long weekend, we are pleased to announce that your elected negotiating committee has reached a tentative agreement with the University of Toronto. (FAQ: What is a tentative agreement?)

 

Member Town Hall
The Union will schedule a hybrid (in-person and Zoom) ratification information town hall to provide our U of T Staff-Appointed Unit members with an overview of the tentative agreement. We will explain key changes to the collective agreement, highlight hard-fought contract improvements, and answer members’ questions. Details about the date, time, and location of the town hall will be shared as soon as they are finalized.

 

Ratification Vote
Following the town hall, our U of T Staff-Appointed Unit members will have the opportunity to cast a ballot in an online ratification vote that will determine whether the tentative agreement is ratified. Details about the date and time of the online ratification vote will be shared as soon as they are finalized. (FAQ: What is a ratification vote?)

 

Next Steps
If the tentative agreement is ratified by the membership, it will become the U of T Staff-Appointed Unit’s collective agreement with a term of July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2029.

 

Strike Deadline
The strike deadline will be extended long enough to allow for the ratification vote to take place.  All members are expected to report to work as usual.

 

We encourage all U of T Staff-Appointed Unit members to attend the upcoming town hall, review the tentative agreement carefully, and cast their ballot in the ratification vote.

In solidarity,

 

Tamara Vickery (she/her)

Vice-President & Staff Appointed Unit President

USW Local 1998

John Ankenman (he/him)

President & Victoria University Unit President

USW Local 1998

USW Local 1998 Fair Wages Fair Workplaces Fair Future

Bargaining Update #14
September 9, 2026

 

Hello, everyone.

 

Following three months of negotiations, including intensive bargaining over the Labour Day long weekend, your elected negotiating committee reached a tentative agreement with the University of Toronto.

 

Given that the Union and the University have reached a tentative agreement, the strike deadline that was set for Thursday, September 10, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. has been extended. Members of USW Local 1998’s U of T Staff-Appointed Unit are expected to attend work as usual pending the outcome of the upcoming tentative agreement ratification vote.

 

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

 

Information Package
A tentative agreement information package is currently being created and must go through a review process before it can be released to the membership. Once the information package has been created, reviewed and finalized, it will be sent to the printer so that hard copies can be made available for members attending the ratification information meeting in-person at UTSG, UTM, and UTSC. All U of T Staff-Appointed Unit members will receive an electronic copy ahead of the ratification information meeting. (FAQ: What is a tentative agreement?)

 

Ratification Information Meeting
A tentative agreement ratification information meeting will be scheduled. The information meeting will be hybrid; members will have the option to attend in-person at UTSG, UTM, UTSC, or remotely on Zoom. The details of this meeting will be announced when they have been finalized. (FAQ: What is a ratification meeting?)

 

Ratification Vote
Following the ratification information meeting, an online tentative agreement ratification vote will be held. The details of this vote will be announced when they have been finalized. (FAQ: What is a ratification vote?)

In solidarity,

 

Tamara Vickery (she/her)

Vice-President & Staff Appointed Unit President

USW Local 1998

John Ankenman (he/him)

President & Victoria University Unit President

USW Local 1998

USW Local 1998 Fair Wages Fair Workplaces Fair Future

Bargaining Update #15

September 10, 2026

 

Hello, everyone.

 

After months of bargaining and intensive negotiations, we can finally confirm the date and time for of our tentative agreement ratification information meeting.

 

This is an important opportunity for members to hear an overview of the tentative agreement, learn more about what was negotiated, and ask questions before casting their tentative agreement ratification votes.

 

Tentative Agreement Ratification Information Meeting

 

Campus: UTSG
Date: Monday, September 14, 2026
Time: 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Location: Convocation Hall (CH)
Address: 31 King’s College Circle, Toronto [map]

 

Campus: UTM
Date: Monday, September 14, 2026
Time: 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Location: Davis Building (DV), Room 3130
Address: 1867 Inner Circle Road, Mississauga [map]

 

Campus: UTSC
Date: Monday, September 14, 2026
Time: 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Location: Kina Wiiya Enadong Building (KW), Room 130
Address: 1265 Military Trail, Scarborough [map]

 

If you would prefer to join the meeting remotely, please see USW Local 1998’s September 14th e-newsletter for Zoom information.

 

Highlights Package and Minutes of Settlement

The Highlights Package and the Minutes of Settlement of the tentative agreement (MoS) will be emailed to U of T Staff-Appointed Unit members on Monday, September 14th at approximately 1:30 p.m. Printed copies of the Highlights Package and MoS will be available at the in-person meeting locations on Monday.

 

Online Ratification Vote

Online voting to accept or reject the tentative agreement will open on Monday, September 14, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. and voting will close on Thursday, September 17, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eligible voters will receive an electronic ballot to their University of Toronto e-mail addresses at or shortly after voting opens. If you have not received your ballot by Monday, September 14, 2026, at 5:45 p.m., email info@usw1998.ca for assistance.

 
Please watch your email and USW Local 1998’s communications channels for the Highlights Package, voting instructions and additional information.
 
All terms of the current 2023-2026 collective agreement remain in place while the ratification process is being implemented.
 
Thank you for your patience as we complete the final review and preparation of the tentative agreement Highlights Package. We look forward to seeing you on September 14, 2026.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

In solidarity,

 

Tamara Vickery (she/her)

Vice-President & Staff Appointed Unit President

USW Local 1998

John Ankenman (he/him)

President & Victoria University Unit President

USW Local 1998

USW Local 1998 Fair Wages Fair Workplaces Fair Future

Bargaining Update #16

September 14, 2026

 

Hello, everyone.

We have completed the proofreading and verification process for the Tentative Agreement Highlights Package and Memorandum of Settlement!
 
The Highlights Package and Memorandum of Settlement are enclosed for your review. Please take some time to review the information provided before the ratification meeting at 3:00 p.m. today.

Highlights Package & MoS

 

Online voting to accept or reject the tentative agreement will open on Monday, September 14, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. and voting will close on Thursday, September 17, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.

 

Eligible voters will receive an electronic ballot to their University of Toronto e-mail addresses at or shortly after voting opens. If you have not received your ballot by Monday, September 14, 2026, at 5:45 p.m., email info@usw1998.ca for assistance.

 

Your elected negotiating committee is recommending a YES vote on ratification.

 

Please bring your questions to the tentative agreement ratification information meeting scheduled today at 3:00 p.m. If you are unable to attend the 3:00 p.m. meeting or have more questions during the voting period, please feel free to email info@usw1998.ca with your questions.

Tentative Agreement Ratification Information Meeting

 

Campus: UTSG
Date: Monday, September 14, 2026
Time: 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Location: Convocation Hall (CH)
Address: 31 King’s College Circle, Toronto [map]

 

Campus: UTM
Date: Monday, September 14, 2026
Time: 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Location: Davis Building (DV), Room 3130
Address: 1867 Inner Circle Road, Mississauga [map]

 

Campus: UTSC
Date: Monday, September 14, 2026
Time: 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Location: Kina Wiiya Enadong Building (KW), Room 130
Address: 1265 Military Trail, Scarborough [map]

 

If you would prefer to join the meeting remotely, please see USW Local 1998’s September 14th e-newsletter for Zoom information.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

In solidarity,

 

Tamara Vickery (she/her)

Vice-President & Staff Appointed Unit President

USW Local 1998

John Ankenman (he/him)

President & Victoria University Unit President

USW Local 1998

USW Local 1998 Fair Wages Fair Workplaces Fair Future
St. Michael’s College Unit (USMC)

Stay Connected

In the event of a strike or lock-out, you will lose access to your employer-provided email account. Submit your personal email address to USW Local 1998 now to ensure continued, direct communication with your union. The information you need – negotiation developments, picket line locations, strike pay, and more – direct to your inbox.

Submit My Email Address

USMC Bargaining Committee 2026

  • Sharif Ali
  • John Ankenman
  • Natalie Barbuzzi
  • Steven Craig
  • Vanessa Gonzalez

Review your bargaining unit’s 2023-2026 collective agreement here.

Have Your Say

  • USMC Collective Bargaining Survey
    Coming Soon

  • Participate in the Bargaining Committee Nomination Meeting
    See Local 1998’s weekly e-newsletter for dates, times, and meeting information.

  • Cast Your Ballot in the Bargaining Committee Election
    See Local 1998’s weekly e-newsletter for dates, times, and voting information.

  • Attend Member Consultation Town Halls (Hybrid)
    See Local 1998’s weekly e-newsletter for dates, times, and meeting information.

  • Attend Bargaining Committee Report Back Town Halls (Hybrid)
    See Local 1998’s weekly e-newsletter for dates, times, and meeting information.

  • Cast Your Ballot in the Strike Mandate Vote
    See Local 1998’s weekly e-newsletter for dates, times, and voting information.

  • Attend Tentative Agreement Ratification Meeting (Hybrid)
    See Local 1998’s weekly e-newsletter for dates, times, and meeting information.

  • Cast Your Ballot in the Tentative Agreement Ratification Vote (Hybrid)
    See Local 1998’s weekly e-newsletter for dates, times, and voting information.
Get Involved
  • Volunteer with the Communication Action Team (CAT).
    Be a direct link between your bargaining committee and rank-and-file union members. Receive and share important collective bargaining updates and scheduled solidarity actions from your bargaining committee with your colleagues.
    Sign Up for the CAT Here
Keep Connected
  • Receive timely collective bargaining updates by text.
    Be the first to know about developments in negotiations between your bargaining committee and the University. Text smc to 32323.

  • Remain in contact in the event of a strike or lock-out.
    In the event of a strike or lock-out, you may lose access to your employer-provided email account. Submit your personal email address to USW Local 1998 now to ensure continued communication with your union.
    Provide Your Personal Email Address Here

  • Follow USW Local 1998 on social media.
    The information you need, direct to your feed.
    Facebook
    Instagram
    LinkedIn
Show Your Solidarity

Union member engagement correlates with stronger contracts. Support your bargaining committee as we negotiate your next collective agreement with the employer by showing your union solidarity in the workplace:

  • Wear your union shirts, hats, lanyards, and buttons.
  • Use your union pens, desk placards, mugs, and phone stands.
  • Upload your “Strength in Solidarity” virtual background to Teams and Zoom (download below).

Coming Soon

 

Coming Soon

Coming Soon

Victoria University Unit (VIC)

Stay Connected

In the event of a strike or lock-out, you will lose access to your employer-provided email account. Submit your personal email address to USW Local 1998 now to ensure continued, direct communication with your union. The information you need – negotiation developments, picket line locations, strike pay, and more – direct to your inbox.

Submit My Email Address

USMC Bargaining Committee 2026

  • Sharif Ali
  • John Ankenman
  • Mark Austin
  • Wanda Hughes
  • Adrian Rizzi

Review your bargaining unit’s 2023-2026 collective agreement here.

Have Your Say

 

  • VIC Collective Bargaining Survey
    Coming Soon

     

  • Participate in the Bargaining Committee Nomination Meeting
    See Local 1998’s weekly e-newsletter for dates, times, and meeting information.

     

  • Cast Your Ballot in the Bargaining Committee Election
    See Local 1998’s weekly e-newsletter for dates, times, and voting information.

     

  • Attend Member Consultation Town Halls (Hybrid)
    See Local 1998’s weekly e-newsletter for dates, times, and meeting information.

     

  • Attend Bargaining Committee Report Back Town Halls (Hybrid)
    See Local 1998’s weekly e-newsletter for dates, times, and meeting information.

     

  • Cast Your Ballot in the Strike Mandate Vote
    See Local 1998’s weekly e-newsletter for dates, times, and voting information.

     

  • Attend Tentative Agreement Ratification Meeting (Hybrid)
    See Local 1998’s weekly e-newsletter for dates, times, and meeting information.

     

  • Cast Your Ballot in the Tentative Agreement Ratification Vote (Hybrid)
    See Local 1998’s weekly e-newsletter for dates, times, and voting information.
Get Involved
  • Volunteer with the Communication Action Team (CAT).
    Be a direct link between your bargaining committee and rank-and-file union members. Receive and share important collective bargaining updates and scheduled solidarity actions from your bargaining committee with your colleagues.
    Sign Up for the CAT Here
Keep Connected
  • Receive timely collective bargaining updates by text.
    Be the first to know about developments in negotiations between your bargaining committee and the University. Text vic to 32323.

  • Remain in contact in the event of a strike or lock-out.
    In the event of a strike or lock-out, you may lose access to your employer-provided email account. Submit your personal email address to USW Local 1998 now to ensure continued communication with your union.
    Provide Your Personal Email Address Here

  • Follow USW Local 1998 on social media.
    The information you need, direct to your feed.
    Facebook
    Instagram
    LinkedIn
Show Your Solidarity

Union member engagement correlates with stronger contracts. Support your bargaining committee as we negotiate your next collective agreement with the employer by showing your union solidarity in the workplace:

  • Wear your union shirts, hats, lanyards, and buttons.
  • Use your union pens, desk placards, mugs, and phone stands.
  • Upload your “Strength in Solidarity” virtual background to Teams and Zoom (download below).

Coming Soon

 

Coming Soon

Coming Soon

Download Your "Strength in Solidarity" Virtual Background
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