About association grievances
As stated in FAUW's Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the University:
"The Association shall be entitled to grieve the interpretation, application, administration or an alleged violation by the University of UW Policies and established practices, this Agreement, or other agreements between the University and the Association, insofar as it directly affects the Association as an organization or the Association's role as defined in this Agreement."
See Article 9 of the MoA for more information about the grievance process.
Individual grievances
It is helpful for FAUW's statistics and issue tracking to be aware of individual grievances filed by our members. If you have, or are considering filing an individual grievance against the University, we encourage you to contact our Academic Freedom & Tenure and Policy Officer for support from the AF&T Committee.
Grievance: 2026-1
Subject: Minutes of Settlement
Filed: January 14, 2026
Summary: In accordance with article 9.4.3 of the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between the University of Waterloo and the Faculty Association of University of Waterloo (FAUW), FAUW grieved that the administration’s Minutes of Settlement (MoS) contain clauses that violate the rights of FAUW and the member under the MoA. This includes, but is not limited to, requiring members to sign restrictive confidentiality clauses that do not include FAUW, and to agree that, where in conflict, the MoS prevails over the MoA.
Updates:
January 29, 2026: An initial grievance meeting has been scheduled for Fenruary 2026.
Grievance: 2025-3
Subject: Salary increase calculations
Filed: November 4, 2025
Summary: In accordance with article 9.4.3 of the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between University of Waterloo and the Faculty Association of University of Waterloo (FAUW), FAUW grieved that the administration has failed and/or refused to comply with the selective salary increase (SSI) provisions in article 13.3 of the MoA from and after May 1, 2000. Without limiting the foregoing, the administration has improperly reduced the selective increase pool for members contrary to article 13.3.2, and improperly calculated SSIs contrary to article 13.3.3.
Updates:
November 20, 2025: This matter will be considered by an arbitrator.
January 12, 2026: The particulars have been filed with the arbitrator.
Grievance: 2025-2
Subject: Conflict of interest
Filed: July 14, 2025
Summary: In accordance with article 9.4.3 of the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between University of Waterloo and the Faculty Association of University of Waterloo (FAUW), FAUW grieved that the vice president, academic & provost (VPA&P) had inappropriately designated the associate vice-president, faculty and academic life to hear a grievance filed by FAUW (Policy 33 – Interim Measures grievance).
Updates:
September 16, 2025 - first meeting: The FAUW president and the VPA&P mutually agreed to pause the grievance process, pending further discussion of related matters at the Faculty Relations Committee (FRC) and through the MoA negotiations.
January 29, 2026: The matter has been discussed at FRC, and the MoA negotiations are ongoing.
Grievance: 2025-1
Subject: Policy 33 interim measures
Filed: June 13, 2025
Summary: In accordance with article 9.3 of the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between University of Waterloo and the Faculty Association of University of Waterloo (FAUW), FAUW grieved that the University of Waterloo had inappropriately applied interim measures beyond the conclusion of an investigation, per the Policy 33 complaints process.
Updates:
July 14, 2025 - first meeting: By mutual agreement the timelines were suspended pending a discussion at Faculty Relations Committee (FRC) when the committee reconvened after the summer break.
January 29, 2026: FAUW is requesting that it appear on the agenda for the next meeting of FRC in February.
Grievance: 2024-1
Subject: Policy 33 discipline
Filed: October 31, 2024
Summary: In accordance with article 9.3 of the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between the University of Waterloo and the Faculty Association of the University of Waterloo (FAUW), FAUW grieved that the University of Waterloo has violated the timelines under the University of Waterloo Workplace Harassment Program, which supports the workplace harassment provisions contained within Policy 33.
Updates:
November 5, 2025: By mutual agreement, the grievance was withdrawn and the following question of jurisdiction is before an arbitrator:
"The Faculty Association of the University of Waterloo’s (FAUW) position is that the University has a legal obligation to issue discipline against a faculty member as a result of having been found to have harassed and created a poisoned work environment for another faculty member while both were performingservice on a committeeinternal to FAUW, as determined through a recent investigation into a Policy 33 complaint.The University’s position is that it has no obligation, arising under the OHSA, University Policy, or the Memorandum of Agreement between FAUW and the University of Waterloo (MoA), to issue such discipline. FAUW’s position is that the University’s actions are in conflict with the MoA including but not limited to sections 2 and 8, Policy 33, and of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, including but not limited to sections 25 and 32.0.7."
The outcome of arbitration will determine the path forward.