The University of Toronto is facing a potential strike as over 6,100 administrative and technical staff members may go on strike starting Tuesday, coinciding with students’ return to classes.
United Steelworkers Local 1998 members voted overwhelmingly, with a 96% majority, in favor of a strike mandate due to unsuccessful negotiations over various issues such as job security, remote work, and artificial intelligence. The union expressed concerns about the university’s plan to save $20 million by not replacing departing employees, which could increase the workload for existing staff.
Despite the strike deadline, union officials are open to continuing negotiations over the long weekend in the hopes of securing a new contract. They emphasized that the possibility of a strike on Tuesday depends on the progress of the talks.
The union, representing a diverse range of roles including Information Technology, program coordinators, academic advisors, and lab assistants, is committed to keeping members informed about the situation and urges them to stay updated through official communications.
