@ocadfa.bsky.social
The official BlueSky feed of OCAD University Faculty Association (OCADFA), Toronto, Ontario, Canada. https://linktr.ee/ocadfa
OCAD U is the least funded university in Ontario and among the lowest-paid faculties in the sector. What will a new round of fiscal tightening bring?
Read the full story here:
www.linkedin.com/pulse/ocadus...
#SMA4 #EducationCuts @caut.bsky.social
Dec 2025 Newsletter:
www.tinyurl.com/Dispatch-122025
- OCADU's #SMA4 & Ontario's Funding Crisis
- A Profile of #SessionalPrecarity
- Senate Update: Shrinking Democratic Space
- CAUT Council: Defending Education, Democracy, and Labour Rights
- Student Union & #Bill33
- and more!
@caut.bsky.social
Mutual Support When You Need It
All OCADFA members have access to a small emergency fund created to assist with unexpected financial hardship.
Members may apply for up to $250 in assistance. Applications are confidential and reviewed as quickly as possible.
To apply: www.tinyurl.com/OCADFAfund
OCADFA Town Hall
Mon, 26 Jan 2026
1-2:30pm, Rm 230, 100 McCaul
Right now, OCADFA resolves bargaining disputes through interest arbitration instead of the right to strike. What does that mean for our power at the tableβand what would change if we pursued strike rights?
OCADFA is always active on the grievance front. We successfully settled two grievances in mediation over the summer that were slated for arbitration, including a workload group grievance concerning Faculty of Art thesis courses:
www.linkedin.com/pulse/grieva...
If OCADFA is a trade union, why canβt we strike? And secondly, doesnβt not being able to strike hurt our leverage at the bargaining table?
www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-ca...
In recent weeks, several faculty and staff have raised a troubling question: has the office charged with upholding human-rights protections at OCAD U quietly been dismantled?
www.linkedin.com/pulse/erosio...
New Bargaining Update Approved!
www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
Min Sook Lee, OCADFA President
βWe made sure that every single labour category at OCADFA saw improvements in their working conditions.β
youtube.com/shorts/OiFQy...
Isra Amsdr, Graduate Student representing #TeachingAssistants
On fighting for better rights for those with disabilities through a #DesireBasedFramework.
youtube.com/shorts/7_yY8...
Eric Steenbergen, Representing Technical Staff
βWhen I started Sessional rates were the lowest in the province, now our pay is in the centre of the pack, Iβm proud of that.β
youtube.com/shorts/mXkYF...
June Pak, Sessional Instructor, OCADFA Vice-President
On how this MoA added transparency to the three level Sessional pay scale.
youtube.com/shorts/Xu9oY...
Maria-BeΜlen OrdoΜnΜez, Representing the Teaching Stream
βIt was important to me that the Faculty of Art would be teaching 6 courses as their workload as the Faculty of Arts and Sciences had been teaching for some time.β
youtube.com/shorts/D0tYi...
Roderick Grant, Representing Permanent Faculty
Getting Chair GPD language into the MoA will have immediate and long term positive impact for faculty moving into and out of the role knowing that itβs a defined position in the MoA.
youtube.com/shorts/l1eM-...
Wed, 19 Nov @1230-2pm
Are you a sessional instructor at OCAD U and do you have questions about your contract, your workload, pay or general working conditions?
www.ocadfa.ca
We just started a LinkedIn page!
Follow us at:
www.linkedin.com/company/ocad-university-faculty-association/
Graeme Reniers, OCADFA Executive Director
On how there were 33 total changes to MoA, making this the most successful in OCADFA history.
youtube.com/shorts/CWDhn...
Annie Tung, Negotiations Chair
β On the language around On-Boarding and Teaching Stream course load production for Studio Faculty.
youtube.com/shorts/88oiI...
We had seven pillars in our bargaining mandate in the last round, and we achieved
gains in all of them! β¨
This series of short videos shares some highlights!
www.tinyurl.com/OCADFA2025
The Nov 2025 issue of our newsletter can be read here:
drive.google.com/file/d/11lBr...
βEXTERNAL EVENTβ
When: Nov 20, 7pm
Where: Venue shared upon registration
Who: All those who work in the higher education sector, including non-academic workers.
Light refreshments will be served.
More information: www.socialistproject.ca/event/crisis-resistance
*This is a non-OCADFA event*
Help nudge us towards bowling victory!
www.workersbowl.ca/fundraisers/leftbydesign
It's time for us to step up and help ensure this work continues - please consider making a donation to our team today.
Donate now and help nudge us towards bowling victory!
All funds raised will directly benefit racialized, immigrant and low-wage workers in precarious jobs.
www.workersbowl.ca/fundraisers/leftbydesign
Interested in joining the team? Email us: ocadfacomms@gmail.com
Thanks to everyone that came out to support the screening of The Encampments on a rainy night last week!
Photo courtesy of @chrilee_photography
Itβs cold and flu season, and COVID is certainly still around us, so weβve been getting a few questions on what to do if youβre sick and need to miss a class.
Learn more:
ocadfa.ca/blog/2023/11...
ATTN all OCAD Teaching Faculty and Academic Staff:
We are very excited to share this illustrated summary of the new Memorandum of Agreement!
Download: drive.google.com/file/d/1SYXu...
A big THANK YOU to OCAD University student and illustrator Ines Tang who spearheaded this project!
We created an illustrated summary of the MoA: www.ocadfa.ca/blog/2025/10/27/ocadfazine
For changes made to the MoA in the most recent round of bargaining: www.ocadfa.ca/2023-2026-moa
Weβve created a Zine to help you know your rights!
We're very excited to share this illustrated summary of our MoA.
OCADFA is deeply indebted to the hard work of OCAD University student and illustrator Ines Tang who spearheaded this project!
ocadfa.ca/blog/2025/10...
Join us THIS THURS, 30 Oct @7pm for a FREE screening (with Q&A with the co-director)!
The Encampments is a documentary about the 2024 Gaza Solidarity Encampment and protest movement at Columbia University and other campuses during the Gaza war and genocide.
βΆοΈ OCAD U Auditorium, 100 McCaul St.
Fair is fair.
Sessionals deserve better wages, job security, benefits, & funding for professional development!
Learn more about the rules & regulations that govern the 600 Faculty & Acad Staff at OCADU:
www.ocadfa.ca/ocadfa-zine-know-your-moa
#fairemploymentweek
#makeitfair
@caut.bsky.social
