Dalhousie University faculty to be locked out Wednesday unless deal is made

Dalhousie University says it will lock out its faculty if a deal is not reached by Wednesday.

Dalhousie University will lock out more than 1,000 faculty members Wednesday unless both parties agree to a new collective agreement.

The Dalhousie Faculty Association – which represents full-time professors, librarians, counsellors and instructors – and the board of governors have been engaged in negotiations for a new deal since May. The previous three-year collective agreement expired at the end of June.

Last week, Dalhousie president Kim Brooks issued the university’s final offer to the union, proposing a wage increase of two per cent per year for three years.

David Westwood, president of the Association, previously told CTV News Atlantic the union is looking for a seven per cent wage increase in the first year, followed by four per cent increases in the second and third years.

The university, which reported a $20.6-million deficit in its 2025-2026 operating budget, previously said it had “significant financial challenges” in meeting the Association’s wage increase request.

In a statement on Monday, the university put out its intention to lock out members of the union at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday unless a deal is reached.

“An August lockout would disrupt a lot of teaching,” Westwood previously said. “It’s also a top month when graduate students are defending their theses. All those defences would be terminated if there’s a lockout. Our members would be unable to do the preparations to get ready for September.”

The Dalhousie website says the campus would remain open during a lockout, but all classes taught by Association members would be suspended. If the lockout extends into the fall term, students will receive further instruction about possible course suspensions.

All other employees outside the Association will report to work as usual.

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