UPEI Labour Relations
UPEI is a great university because of the people who are deeply committed to its future and upholding its mission of providing outstanding learning opportunities to students.
Together, we are building programs that encourage students to develop to their full potential in the classroom and the community. We value accountability and integrity, excellence, respect and collegiality and shared responsibility for all that we do.
Almost all universities across Canada have collective agreements with their faculty and staff, and negotiations are a routine part of the life cycle of these agreements. The University of Prince Edward Island has collective agreements with three different unions (five bargaining units). We are committed to negotiating collective agreements that serve the broad interests of students and the University community for the long term. The University will make every effort to keep employees, students, and community members informed about the collective bargaining process.
University, Faculty Association ratify new agreement; classes resume
The UPEI Faculty Association initiated strike action on March 20, 2023. During the strike, all teaching—including classes, online lectures, labs, tutorials, assessments, etc.—were suspended.
The University of Prince Edward Island Board of Governors and members of the UPEI Faculty Association (UPEI FA), Bargaining Unit 1 and Bargaining Unit 2, ratified a new collective agreement on Friday, April 14, 2023, ending the faculty strike. Classes resumed on Monday, April 17, 2023.
- Read the UPEI Community Bulletin that provides important details of the return-to-class plan.
- Visit the Updates page or see below for the latest news on labour relations and previous messages.
- Visit the Resources and Issues page for the latest documents and At Issue briefs.
The form for students to select the Pass/Fail Grade Replacement Option is now available on the UPEI Student-App. The option, which is being offered for most courses after numerical grades have been assigned, is available until May 8, 2023.
In this message to students, Dr. Greg Naterer, Vice-President Academic and Research, confirms that student impact payments will be processed Wednesday, April 26, and outlines how they were calculated.
UPEI's Vice-President, Academic and Research Dr. Greg Naterer updated students on the return-to-class plan, including the student impact payment, which will be made using the net savings that occurred from not paying faculty salaries during the strike. He also advised students on how to reach out if they believe they are not being reasonably accommodated during the remainder of the semester.
The University of Prince Edward Island Board of Governors and members of the UPEI Faculty Association (UPEI FA), Bargaining Unit 1 and Bargaining Unit 2, ratified a new collective on Friday, April 14, 2023, ending the faculty strike. Classes at UPEI will resume Monday, April 17.
The University of Prince Edward Island and the UPEI Faculty Association (UPEI FA), Bargaining Unit 1 and Bargaining Unit 2, reached a tentative Collective Agreement on Friday, April 14, 2023.
The following message from the Vice-President Academic and Research was sent to UPEI students and copied to employees via their UPEI email accounts on Thursday, April 13, 2023.
The University encourages members of the campus community to read mediator Michelle Flaherty’s Mediation Report to the PEI Minister of Economic Growth, Tourism and Culture, which was posted to the provincial government website on April 11, 2023.
In the latest message to the campus community, the University describes its attempts during mediation to encourage the UPEI Faculty Association to end their strike and return to class. Nationally recognized mediator Michelle Flaherty ended the mediation process on Monday, April 10.
The University issued a UPEI Community Bulletin indicating that it is very disappointed that the mediation process has broken down.
The following message outlining student supports, activities, and events available during the strike was also emailed to UPEI students on behalf of UPEI Student Affairs on April 6, 2023. Please note that some programming is not taking place over the holiday weekend.
