Dear students/employees,
As communicated earlier this week, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) has provided Ontario colleges with notice of its plans to commence a strike on March 18, 2022, beginning at 12:01 a.m. The strike would involve all full-time and partial-load professors, counsellors and librarians of the Ontario college system, including Humber full-time and partial-load faculty who teach at the University of Guelph-Humber (UofGH). We are hopeful that a resolution will be reached, and a strike prevented; however, plans are being made in the event of a strike.
We know that each of you have endured unique circumstances since the onset of the pandemic, and we know that the pending work stoppage is an added stress. We will continue to support you as a member of the Humber community.
More information about what you can expect during the potential strike.
All Humber full-time classes will be suspended during the strike. Some Continuous Professional Learning (CPL) and some University of Guelph-Humber (UofGH) courses will continue to run. All Humber Education and Training Solutions programs will continue to run as scheduled. A list of programs that are/are not running will be posted on Friday.
Students will not lose their semester if a strike occurs. While we are unable to predict how long the strike may last, please know that Humber and UofGH are committed to student success, and we will ensure that all students have the opportunity to achieve their learning goals and complete their semester in a timely manner. Specific details will depend on the number of academic days affected by the strike and will vary by program.
We encourage students to remain enrolled in their classes. There will be time following the end of the strike for students to decide about withdrawing. Details regarding possible refunds will also be available at that time.
There may be disruptions to student work placements and learners should expect to receive updates from their Faculties directly. Humber students may contact their placement coordinator if they have any questions. UofGH students may contact their field placement coordinator directly regarding the status of placement activity.
Any student employee should contact their manager to determine the impact of the potential strike on their upcoming schedule and duties. We will work to ensure that students who are scheduled to work for the remainder of the Winter semester will have the opportunity to continue to work.
We anticipate that all varsity athletic events, including the National Basketball championship scheduled for March 24-27, and Humber’s participation in selected off-site activities will continue during the strike.
If a strike occurs, while full-time classes will not be in session, Humber campuses and Employment Ontario offices along with the University of Guelph-Humber will remain open during the strike. Expected strike-specific hours of operation are listed below. Student services will be available either in-person and/or virtually.
We know you are studying amidst difficult circumstances and that the news about a potential strike may cause anxiety. We are committed to supporting the health and well-being of our students and recognize that navigating this uncertainty can be challenging. Humber offers many resources for students that can support personal health, well-being and resilience:
- You can reach out to Humber's Student Support and Intervention Coordinators at SICsupport@humber.ca to learn about resources available, get connected to college and community-based supports, and help identify next steps.
- The Student Wellness & Accessibility Centre also lists resources that may be of interest. These include Peer Wellness Services, Good2Talk, keep.meSAFE, and Therapy Assist Online (TAO).
We anticipate that there will be picket lines at the North and Lakeshore campus entrances. Anyone travelling to/from campus should expect delays and plan accordingly.
We encourage students to use time during the strike to catch up on course work, readings and assignments, and review any material that you may have found challenging. Services such as Peer Tutoring, Math and Writing Centres and other academic supports will be available during and after the strike.
Expected Hours of Operation During a Strike (subject to change at any time)
- Humber North Campus, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- North Campus Learning Commons (LRC 3rd floor), 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Education and Training Solutions, Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Centre for Trades and Technology, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Humber Lakeshore Campus, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Lakeshore Learning Commons (L Building), 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- International Graduate School, Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- University of Guelph-Humber, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Students who have any questions about their program are asked to contact their respective Faculty representative listed below.
Faculty of Applied Sciences & Technology
tina.kotsiomitis@humber.ca
Faculty of Business
facultyofbusiness@humber.ca
Faculty of Health Sciences and Wellness
AskFHSW@humber.ca
Faculty of Liberal Arts & Sciences
sonia.hoy@humber.ca
Faculty of Media & Creative Arts
HumberMediaArts@humber.ca
Faculty of Social and Community Services
tony.kontor@humber.ca
Faculty, staff and students are all valued and vital parts of the Humber community and the Ontario college system. We look forward to a swift resolution to the strike and a return to the classroom for both educators and learners.
During the strike, and ongoing, please check for regular communication on our updates and academic bargaining pages. We will also provide updates by direct mail and on our social media channels. The College Employer Council website includes a full update as well.
Thank you for your patience as we work to provide updates on this evolving situation.
