Updates

The following update was emailed to all new and returning students on Sunday, August 31.

Update on labour disruption and start of Fall term

Sunday, August 31, 2025
 
Dear students,

I am writing to provide an update on the fall term and the ongoing labour disruption at Dalhousie. At this time, most courses will not proceed as planned when the term starts on Tuesday, September 2, 2025. For the list of courses that will proceed, please visit our Course Information website.

Fall term impacts

Sessional dates and deadlines for the fall term remain as planned (including add/drop, withdrawal, tuition deadlines, etc.). The duration of the labour disruption will determine whether those dates need to be updated. We advise you to maintain some flexibility with fall plans (e.g., travel plans for reading break) in case adjustments are required. We are committed to sharing updates with you as they become available.

I recognize the uncertainty this situation creates may be causing stress or generating questions. Please know that the following supports are available to you:

• For general questions, please refer to the detailed FAQ on our Labour Relations site.
• If you have academic advising questions, please reach out to your faculty or program advisors, listed for each Faculty on the Course Information site.
• If you need health and wellness support, Dalhousie’s same-day counsellors are available in person or by phone during the labour disruption. You also have access to a number of online mental health resources. Please visit the Student Health & Wellness website for detailed information.

Additional programming for students

We encourage you to take advantage of engaging events and programs available for new and returning students. A list of community-building events, academic workshops, and off-campus opportunities will be shared with students later this week. The Dalhousie Welcome Fair will be held on Tuesday, September 2, from 12-4 p.m. on the Studley Quad in Halifax, and the Community Campus Expo will be held on Tuesday from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in Truro. These are open to new and returning students. 

Overview of current situation

Contract negotiations are a regular part of employer/employee relations. Most times, details of the contract (including things such as wage increases, pensions, or other aspects of working conditions) are worked out directly between two parties during bargaining. If parties cannot reach an agreement, a strike and/or lockout may occur.
 
The bargaining teams currently representing the Dalhousie Faculty Association (DFA) and the Dalhousie Board of Governors were unable to reach an agreement through negotiations at the bargaining table. The last offer from the Board of Governors on August 11, included wage increases of 2% per year, over three years, amounting to a 6% wage increase for DFA members by 2027. The last formal offer from the DFA requested wage increases of 3.75% in year one, 4.75% in year two, and 5.75% in year three, totaling a 14.25% wage increase over the next three years. A 14.25% increase translates to a difference of $15 million dollars between the DFA's request and what the Dalhousie’s Board of Governors was able to offer. Information about these offers and when they were issued can be found on the Labour Relations website under “Latest Updates.”

• We have reached an impasse on faculty wages and the distance between the two parties is significant enough that we believe the most effective path forward is inviting a neutral third-party arbitrator to help us reach an agreement.
• In arbitration, an independent decision-maker reviews both positions and determines the best way forward. Both parties must agree to interest arbitration.
• Last week, an offer of interest arbitration was presented to the DFA. Although this offer was declined, we remain committed to reaching a resolution.

We understand there is a lot of conflicting information circulating and acknowledge how difficult it is to navigate. All up-to-date information from the university will continue to be shared over official channels like your Dalhousie email, and on the Dalhousie Labour Relations site.
 
I know this is not the welcome or return to classes that we all hoped for. We remain hopeful for a swift resolution and minimal disruption to the fall term.

Sincerely,
 
Dr. Wanda Costen
Provost & Vice-President Academic