UVic Bargaining Bulletins
The UVic Bargaining Team sends regular bargaining-related updates to faculty and librarian colleagues, posted below.
#6: Summer update (July 24, 2025)
In British Columbia, public sector bargaining—including for post-secondary institutions—is governed by the BC Labour Relations Code and the Public Sector Employers Act. The BC Government sets a centralized bargaining “mandate” that outlines general wage increases, the term of the collective agreements and any other government priorities related to public service delivery and fiscal management.
As the BC Government has not yet established the bargaining mandate for 2025, the University and the Faculty Association have agreed to pause bargaining and resume discussions in September. Although the Collective Agreement expired on June 30, 2025, its terms remain in effect until a new agreement is reached and ratified. This also means that general wage increases, typically implemented on July 1, cannot proceed at this time—though any increases that are negotiated will be applied retroactively.
Recent media reports have noted that the Provincial Government is facing fiscal pressures, including a $9 billion deficit and potential tariff impacts, which are expected to influence the forthcoming bargaining mandate, wage proposals, and negotiation timelines. Also, the Premier’s recent mandate letter to the Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills underscores the broader economic and sectoral challenges ahead.
We will continue to update you as new information becomes available. In the meantime, updates, FAQs and other resources are available on UVic's bargaining website.
#5: Teaching and research (June 10, 2025)
Based on the positive feedback we received on our initial statistics page, we have posted additional statistics focusing on teaching and research activities across the university.
This page presents data that helps illustrate the essential contributions faculty make to our academic and research mission, beyond what is often captured in public narratives. We hope you’ll find this to be a helpful reference for understanding the value of our collective work—both within the university and to external audiences.
#4: Budget townhall (May 29, 2025)
If you weren’t able to attend the recent Budget Townhall, a recording is now available on the UVic budget website: uvic.ca/budget/updates/2025-budget-townhall.php.
The session provides an overview of UVic’s current financial position, along with broader insights into the post-secondary landscape across BC and Canada. It also includes information about how UVic is funded and how spending is allocated to support our academic and research mission. This context may be of interest to you, particularly as we continue through the bargaining process.
The Vice-Presidents also responded to questions related to enrolment, academic accommodations, financial sustainability, and other budget-related topics relevant to faculty and librarians.
#3: Statistics (May 8, 2025)
We welcome you to visit the new statistics section on the UVic bargaining website.
These pages provide information related to faculty salaries, student-faculty ratios, faculty recruitment and retention, and academic accommodations, as well as slide decks and other relevant information on UVic's budget and costing. Comparators across institutions and historical trends are included where possible, drawing information primarily from Statistics Canada and the Canadian Association of University Business Officers (CAUBO).
You may find it a useful tool for understanding the current bargaining context and situating UVic within the broader post-secondary landscape in Canada.
Throughout the bargaining process, we will update the statistics pages with additional information of potential interest to faculty and librarians.
#2: Values and principles (April 11, 2025)
Yesterday, at the first full-day session of bargaining, the University and the Faculty Association read their opening statements.
The University’s statement outlines our key values and principles guiding this round of collective bargaining. At the heart of the statement is a commitment to good faith engagement, transparency, shared interests, and respectful dialogue. The statement emphasizes UVic’s dedication to equity, inclusion, reconciliation, financial sustainability, and fostering a supportive and student-focused academic environment.
Read the University's opening statement
The BC Government has not yet released its bargaining mandate for 2025, which will outline the parameters for wage and benefit increases. In the meantime, the University will continue to discuss non-monetary matters with the Faculty Association.
Please visit the bargaining website for more information, including new FAQs on values, principles and good faith bargaining.
#1: Introduction (April 8, 2025)
The current Collective Agreement between the University of Victoria and Faculty Association is in effect July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2025.
In BC, the provincial government determines the bargaining schedule and monetary mandate for the public sector, which includes universities. While we have not yet received the mandate from government, we have worked with the Faculty Association to identify dates to discuss non-monetary matters. The University of Victoria is pleased to advise that bargaining will open for the first full-day session on April 10, 2025.
The university is keen to do everything possible to complete an agreement before the Collective Agreement expiry date of June 30, 2025 and ahead of the annual salary process. Should that not be possible, we are committed to working through the summer with the Faculty Association to secure an Agreement as soon as possible.
We will update you throughout the process, including through regular Bargaining Bulletins and the refreshed Bargaining website, which includes FAQs. Stay tuned.