Carleton University and the Carleton University Academic Staff Association (CUASA), which represents full-time faculty and professional librarians, have been in collective bargaining since October 3, 2024. On January 28, 2025, CUASA applied to the Ministry of Labour to request the appointment of a conciliation officer. In recent weeks, the parties have worked productively for five days with the assistance of a conciliator appointed by the Ministry of Labour.
On April 10, 2025, CUASA requested that the conciliator file a no-board report. This means that CUASA will be in a legal strike position in early May. This does not mean that a strike is imminent or certain to occur. The university and CUASA have agreed to participate in mediation with William Kaplan, an experienced labour arbitrator and mediator, on April 26 and 27.
The university’s goal is to achieve a negotiated agreement that reflects the important and valued work that faculty and librarians perform, while also considering the university’s current financial situation. Carleton—along with the entire post-secondary education sector in Ontario—is currently facing unprecedented financial challenges due to an ongoing tuition freeze, frozen grant funding and caps on international student visas.
The university has addressed CUASA’s workload issues and has made a reasonable offer with improvements to health benefits and a comprehensive financial package. The university remains committed to reaching a fair and sustainable agreement that prioritizes the well-being of its employees while ensuring financial stability and the long-term viability of its academic mission.
Should CUASA decide to strike, contingency plans will ensure operational continuity throughout the negotiation process.
We remain hopeful that a collective agreement will be reached through negotiations at the bargaining table. We will be communicating regularly as the situation evolves.
More information regarding the collective bargaining process can be found on the Collective Bargaining site.