From: Heather Boon, Vice-Provost, Faculty & Academic Life
Date: September 12, 2025
Re: Implementation of Changes to the University of Toronto Workload Policy and Procedures for Faculty and Librarians (WLPP) (PDAD&C #8)

I am writing to share the details concerning the implementation of the changes to the University of Toronto Workload Policy and Procedures for Faculty and Librarians (WLPP) as awarded by Arbitrator Eli Gedalof on July 3, 2025. The award is available here.

A copy of the revised WLPP, incorporating the changes described below, is posted on the VPFAL website.

Key changes to the WLPP as set out in the arbitration award include:

1. Revised language in Section 2.17:

1. The awarded language provides that when a workload deviates from the norm, the variations and the corresponding reasons should continue to be captured in the individual faculty member’s written assignment of workload. However, details related to confidential accommodations must not be included in workload letters.  

“Where an individual member’s assignment is materially different from the unit’s workload norms, standards, or ranges, the variation and the reason for it shall be identified in the individual member’s written assignment of workload, subject to any confidential accommodation agreements.” (emphasis added)

b. Language regarding the process for sharing written assignments of workload with members of the Unit and Association has been streamlined, and outdated transition language related to the provision of online access to unit workload letters has been deleted.  Despite the deletion of this transitional language, it will remain the established practice to share workload assignments via a secure platform

2. Changes to Section 3.3 (Annual Workload Documents):

1. The following new information must be incorporated into the annual Unit Workload Documents: “The percentage appointment of each member within the unit;”
2. Amended the following information requirement:

“For each course that a member teaches, the assigned teaching credit, the mode of delivery, the class size, and the level and/or hours of TA support, and any other factor which the Unit Workload Committee determines is a reasonable factor for comparison;” as follows:

“For each course that a member teaches, the assigned teaching credit, the anticipated mode of delivery, the anticipated class size, and the anticipated level and/or hours of TA support, and any other factor which the Unit Workload Committee determines is a reasonable factor for comparison;” (emphasis added)

3. Changes to Section 8.1 (Librarians: Additional Provisions):

1. Changing the reference from “manager” to “supervisor” in Section 8.1 (a).
2. Adding a reference to “creative professional activities” in Section 8.1 (b)

This arbitration award does NOT impact the date each member should be provided with a written assignment of their workload duties, the requirement to prepare a Unit Workload Document, or the necessity to make copies of both workload assignments and the Unit Workload Document available to members of the unit and UTFA (by June 30th of each year).

Changes with respect to the Unit Workload Document must be implemented for the 2026-27 academic year. Documents prepared for the 2025-26 academic year, do not need to be modified.   

If you have any questions, please reach out to your Dean’s Office, or, in the case of a single-department Faculty, to VPFAL directly.