The University remains open.

You should expect picket lines at entry points to campus during a strike. Anticipate some delays while entering or leaving campus, and give yourself extra time when planning your schedule.

Please also refer to Picket Line Guidelines.

The union will have picket lines in place at the entry points to Brock. Expect long delays when  entering or leaving campus. We ask that you be patient and considerate of others.

Brock and OSSTF have jointly developed a picket line protocol to ensure members of the University community and visitors can safely enter and exit the campus in the event of a strike. This protocol includes:

• All emergency vehicles and personnel (which includes Campus Safety Services) responding to an emergency shall have immediate and unobstructed entrance and exit to the university property.
• General access to the premises will be permitted with a delay of no more than 5-10 minutes for the sole purpose of communicating information.
  Pickets shall not delay any vehicle seeking to exit university property.  Individuals will not use designated exit lanes to enter the university.
• The Union will provide  Campus Safety Services with a minimum of 24 (twenty-four) hours notice of the picket locations.

Picketers have a legal right to picket on public property but cannot permanently blockade or obstruct entry to campus. If you have a concern about access, remain calm and patient and contact Campus Security Services at x4300 to report an incident or x3200 to report an emergency.

Please download the Brock Safety App, which is available for free at the App Store or Google Play, to quickly access campus and local safety resources.

Possibly. The Union has indicated that they may elect to picket on public property adjacent to any of the university owned, leased, or rented premises.

All faculty and staff members not on strike are expected to report for work as scheduled and perform their normal duties as required. Please remember to allow time for any delays that you may experience when entering the campus.

If one of your appointments (positions) is not covered by the striking union then you are expected to report to work in accordance with your work schedule for the position that is not covered by the striking union. Bargaining unit member employees not on strike should refer to applicable provisions of their collective agreement for further information.

Employees not on strike are expected to report for work as scheduled, unless your Supervisor notifies you otherwise. Please remember to allow time for any delays that you may experience when entering the campus.

Employees not on strike are expected to attend work in accordance with their work schedule.  However, alternate starting and stopping times and/or work arrangements may be requested and will be subject to approval at the discretion of your supervisor and the operational needs of the department consistent with work practices and collective agreements, if applicable.

Public transit will not enter campus during a strike. Alternate stops near campus will be established for St. Catharines Transit,  Megabus, Niagara Region Transit, Niagara Falls Transit and GO transit. An accessibility shuttle will be available from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Alternate stops are as follows:

Glenridge Ave. and East Academic Complex:

• Route 316/416
• Route 336/436

Sir Isaac Brock Way and Schmon Parkway (West) in front of McDonald’s:

• Route 321/421
• Route 324/424
• Route 331/431

Sir Isaac Brock Way and Schmon Parkway (East) in front of the Niagara Region building:

• Route 335/435
• Route 50/55
• Route 70
• Route 75
• Coach Canada, Go Bus, Megabus

With transit buses dropping off and picking up passengers along Glenridge Avenue and Sir Isaac Brock Way, Brock students and staff are urged to plan to arrive on campus earlier than usual and to consider using public transit or carpooling to avoid delays and reduce congestion during the labour dispute.

Parking on campus will remain available and permits and payment for daily lots will continue to be required and enforced.

Library spaces – including the James A. Gibson Library, Archives and Special Collections, Makerspace, and Map, Data and GIS Library – will be open. Please visit the library website for the most current information.

The Campus Store will continue to be open to the public and online orders will still be available 24/7, although there may be slight delays in shipping. For in-store hours of operation or to place online orders, please visit the Campus Store website.

Campus eateries, including Market Eatery, Hungry Badger, Starbucks, and the Fresh Food Company dining halls in Lowenberger and DeCew will continue to operate under regular hours. Please visit the Dining Services website for winter semester hours of operation.

Yes, the Zone and pool remain open. Please visit the Recreation at Brock website for up-to-date operating hours.

Bfit remains open. Please check the Bfit website prior to visiting for up-to-date operating hours.

Employees are expected to attend work. If an employee reports that they feel they cannot cross a picket line for potential health and safety reasons, they should report the concern to their supervisor. The supervisor should take the same steps to respond to this type of health and safety claim as required by the Occupational Health and Safety Act, i.e., receive the report of the incident and take appropriate corrective action in consultation with Health, Safety & Wellness (HSW) at [email protected].

Employees should not engage in any confrontation at the picket line. If employees are not allowed through the picket line, or if they have reason to feel threatened, they should withdraw and report the incident to their supervisor.

Issues involving imminent danger need to be communicated to Campus Safety Services at their 24hr emergency line x3200.  All workplace injuries need to be reported immediately to your supervisor and a Brock Incident/Injury form should be completed within 24hrs and submitted to HSW via e-mail at [email protected]

Chemical waste collection will be done as needed, including when the volume in a lab cannot be safely accommodated or when a lab has become overcrowded. If you have chemical waste ready for disposal, complete a Chemical Waste Disposal Record form and drop it off at Science Stores, email to [email protected] or fax to 905-984-4864.

For more information, contact the Lab Safety Coordinator at ext. 3284 or [email protected]

A strike may lead to increased stress among students and staff due to disruptions. A reminder to leverage EFAP through TELUS Health, or alternatively Canadian Mental Health Association Niagara (CMHA) clinicians available for same day appointments in St Catharines and Niagara Falls (in person, video or telephonic). Appointments can be made at 905-641-5222.

Yes, all faculty and staff have the right to cross the picket line to get to campus. Please be respectful and patient while waiting to enter campus.

Brock will continue to provide in-person student supports and services in the event of a strike. The University remains open and all faculty and staff not on strike are expected to report for work as scheduled.

OSSTF employees are not to report to work while they are on strike.

As an employee on strike, your pay will cease for the duration of the strike.

Pension contributions (if applicable) into your Money Purchase Component account are based on pensionable earnings each month and would be impacted by pay ceasing. Pensionable service is calculated based on completed months of service during which an employee is a contributor to the pension plan and will be decreased accordingly.

Eligibility for extended health, travel and dental coverage (GreenShield), Life Insurance and Accidental, Death & Dismemberment (AD&D), and Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) will cease for the duration of the strike. The University and OSSTF are currently in discussion about continuation of these benefits during the strike, but an agreement has not yet been reached.

Tuition waiver forms that come in during the strike will not be processed.

Vacation entitlement will be prorated to account for the duration of the strike.

Eligibility for short-term sick leave will cease for the duration of the strike. Employees on medical leave and already approved by health management with a date that predates the first strike day, will continue to receive benefit while they remain medically unable to perform duties of their role. These employees are expected to remain active participants in the sick leave process and communications. Employees approved Long Term Disability (LTD) through OTIP will continue to receive benefit payments from OTIP.

Notwithstanding the above, supplemental maternity top up payments, and applicable benefits and pension will continue for employees on an Employment Standards Act (ESA) leave, in accordance with communication provided to the employee from the Office of People and Culture at the start of their ESA leave. Pay and eligibility for benefits and pension will be in alignment with the above noted points when their ESA leave ends.

Guests are welcome to visit campus, and are encouraged to book a tour online. Guided campus tours are conducted by Brock students and are offered year-round, Monday through Friday at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Please allow yourself extra time to enter campus during a labour disruption as you may experience traffic delays.

You are welcome to reschedule your visit using our web portal or by calling Student Recruitment at 905-688-5550 x4293.

We offer self-guided virtual tours, guided virtual tours and other virtual presentations and programming. Please visit discover.brocku.ca/tours-and-events to view the full calendar.

No, there will be no impact on the submission or processing of applications to academic programs.

All classes, labs and other academic activities will continue as scheduled. There may be alternative delivery of some academic programming and instructors will share these plans where applicable. Students with questions should contact their instructors.

Students who choose to not cross a legal picket line during a disruption will not be penalized. However, students are not absolved of the responsibility for completing their course requirements.

Please reach out to your professor directly to find out how to obtain course materials or if alternative arrangements have been made. If further support is required, please contact your Faculty Dean’s Office.

Yes. All academic courses will continue.

Yes, unless you see information indicating otherwise.

Brock Academic Advising can assist you with this via email at [email protected] or in person. Please go to the Registration tab in your BrockDB portal by the end of day Jan. 17, 2025, to manage your registration. Please note that you will not be able to see your grades if you have fees owing and you will not be able to alter your registration if more than $4800 is owing. Beyond Jan. 17, 2025, please follow the Course Withdrawal instructions available on Office of the Registrar’s website.

Brock Central, in the Office of the Registrar and Enrolment Services, is open regular hours to support students by phone or e-mail and in person. Transcripts are available via BrockDB and MyCreds, which can be sent to your recipient digitally, and other documents can be uploaded to the my.brocku.ca portal. If you need to pick up a diploma, you are welcome to come to campus or we can mail it for you.

Please allow yourself extra time to enter campus during a labour disruption as you may experience traffic delays.

Labs and research facilities are expected to operate as usual.

Specific questions or concerns can be directed to [email protected].