Starting this January, U of T administrative staff began the transition to full-time in-person work, as per a mandate announced last October by U of T president Melanie Woodin.

This mandate was criticized by United Steelworkers (USW) Local 1998, the union representing U of T administrative and technical staff, which approved spending up to $100,000 on a fightback against the mandate. 

Doug Ford announced a similar mandate for the more than 60,000 employees of the Ontario Public Service (OPS) beginning in January, claiming it would increase worker productivity and support small businesses in downtown Toronto who rely on foot traffic. 

Ford’s move was met with criticism from public service workers and labour unions such as the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/SEFPO), who have challenged the mandate’s legality. As of January 23, more than 10,000 alternative work accommodation requests had been filed as a result of the mandate. 

U of T’s return to office

Following Woodin’s initial announcement, Local 1998 President and Unit President, Victoria University Unit John Ankenman, and Local 1998 Vice-President and Unit President, Staff-Appointed Tamara Vickery, told The Varsity that the announcement has “caused anxiety and frustration for many people,” and that this decision will disproportionately affect staff who are female, racialized, disabled, or have childcare responsibilities.

USW Local 1998 have not changed their stance on the mandate, and wrote to The Varsity that they are “ramping up this campaign through a number of coordinated efforts, including member engagement activities, outreach, and planned events that will be unfolding over the coming weeks. This work is a key priority.”

Many of USW’s posters have been posted around campus promoting hybrid work, which include phrases like, “Have an [alternative work arrangement]? Don’t let the university take it away.”

A spokesperson for U of T confirmed that the transition to increased in-person work for administrative staff began as planned, and that the university had not faced any challenges in implementing the policy.

The spokesperson also confirmed that some departments and units had already completed the transition as of January 23, but did not comment on which departments.

Ontario public service employees protest in-person mandate

In an email to The Varsity, Amanda Usher, Chair of the OPSEU/SEFPO OPS Unified Central Employee Relations Committee (CERC) and the OPSEU/SEFPO OPS Unified Bargaining Team, wrote that OPS workers “have proven that modern and flexible work arrangements deliver real results,” saying that “Productivity rose, services thrived and taxpayers saved millions in office space costs.”

On January 23, dozens of OPS workers gathered outside the Ontario Labour Relations Board to protest the mandate as the CERC challenged it inside. They argued that it violates Section 86(1) of the Ontario Labour Relations Act, which prohibits employers from unilaterally altering the working conditions of employees once bargaining has commenced.

When asked why in-person work mandates have begun to ramp up, Usher wrote, “The sudden push to reverse the hybrid model isn’t about improving performance or service delivery for this government, it’s about reasserting forms of workplace control that ignore procedure, evidence and the people who keep this province running.” 

On January 26, CERC made a statement announcing that the mediation was unsuccessful and that they will proceed to a formal hearing at the Ontario Labour Relations Board, which has been scheduled for May 26 and June 5.