The Strike Begins: TAs, RAs, and ICAs Walk Out at NSCAD
Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University (NSCAD), a premier institution for visual arts and design education in Halifax, Nova Scotia, is facing significant disruption as teaching assistants (TAs), research assistants (RAs), and individual course appointees (ICAs) launched a strike on March 4, 2026. Represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 3912, approximately 133 workers walked off the job after 18 months of negotiations failed to yield a first collective agreement. This action comes at a critical time, just weeks before the winter semester ends on April 24, highlighting the urgency of fair wages and job protections in Canadian higher education.
ICAs, often graduate students or experienced artists hired to teach specific courses on a per-semester basis, TAs who support faculty in grading and tutorials, and RAs aiding professors in research projects form the backbone of NSCAD's academic delivery. Their strike underscores growing concerns over precarious employment in academia, particularly in specialized fields like art and design.
Understanding NSCAD: A Hub for Artistic Innovation
Founded in 1887 and granted university status in 2003, NSCAD University stands as one of Canada's oldest art and design institutions, with around 820 students primarily in undergraduate programs focusing on majors like painting, ceramics, graphic design, and interdisciplinary art. Located in the heart of Halifax, it fosters a vibrant community where students engage in studio-based learning, exhibitions, and collaborations with the local arts scene. However, as a small, specialized public university, NSCAD grapples with financial pressures amid rising operational costs and Nova Scotia's post-secondary funding challenges.
The institution's reliance on part-time academic staff—ICAs teach about 18% of courses—makes it vulnerable to labor disputes, especially when wages lag behind inflation and peers. For those exploring opportunities in creative higher education, NSCAD exemplifies the blend of artistic freedom and economic realities in Canadian universities.
Precarious Roles: Who Are TAs, RAs, and ICAs?
Teaching assistants (TAs) are typically graduate students who assist professors by leading tutorials, grading assignments, and holding office hours, often working 100-140 hours per semester. Research assistants (RAs) support faculty projects, from data collection to lab work, crucial for NSCAD's creative research in areas like digital media and sustainable design. Individual course appointees (ICAs), akin to sessional lecturers, design and deliver full courses but on short-term contracts without tenure prospects.
At NSCAD, these roles pay ICAs roughly $5,780 for a 3-credit course—far below the national average of $9,200—and TAs/RAs about $17 per hour or $2,500 per semester, unchanged since 1984. Nationally, TA wages average $24-30 per hour, with top Ontario schools reaching $40-55 for graduate TAs. This stagnation forces many into multiple gigs in Halifax's costly rental market, where average one-bedroom rents exceed $2,000 monthly.
A Timeline of Frustrated Negotiations
Bargaining kicked off on September 11, 2024, after workers unionized in summer 2023. Early progress included agreements on job postings, sick days, and onboarding. However, monetary talks stalled: by October 2025, a strike vote passed with 90% support. Conciliation in February 2026 hit impasse on wages and security, culminating in failure on March 3.
- Sept 2024: Initial proposals exchanged; university rejects many non-monetary items.
- Dec 2025: Strike mandate secured.
- Feb 2026: Conciliation begins; university proposes TA hour cuts to 36 per semester.
- Mar 3, 2026: Final talks collapse; strike starts Mar 4.
Picketing occurs weekdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with strike pay at $350 weekly for 20 hours of duties.
Union Demands: Living Wages and Dignified Work
CUPE 3912 seeks transformative changes: $10,000 per 3-credit ICA course (vs. current $5,780), $40/hour for TAs/RAs (from $17), health benefits, and a living wage adjusted for Halifax's high costs. Job security includes precedence (seniority-based hiring), right-of-first-refusal for ICAs, and bans on contracting out to volunteers.
"NSCAD is thousands behind the standard," says union VP Lachlan Sheldrick, noting Concordia pays nearly double for courses. Additional asks cover academic freedom, IP rights over teaching materials, and anti-harassment protections—essentials for creative workers.CUPE bargaining updates
These demands align with best practices for research roles, emphasizing stability to foster innovation.
Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash
University's Stance: Sustainability in a Tough Landscape
NSCAD counters that CUPE's asks exceed affordability for a small art university facing enrollment pressures and provincial funding shortfalls. They offered a 3% raise—deemed a pay cut amid 3.2% inflation—and restructured TA hours, which the union rejected. "CUPE was unwilling to negotiate meaningfully on wages," the university states, committing to minimal student disruption while urging a return to talks.
Classes by full-time faculty continue unaffected; disrupted ICA courses like AHIS-2505 and TEXL-2501 have assessments paused.NSCAD labour relations page
Campus Impacts: Students Caught in the Middle
With ICAs handling 18% of courses, several classes are canceled, but Brightspace, libraries, and student services remain open. SUNSCAD president Ziggy Kirch voices student solidarity: "A longer strike pressures resolution, but we hope for quick talks." Graduating seniors risk delays, prompting Senate review of credits and tuition.
For students navigating disruptions, resources like Rate My Professor can help gauge courses.
Broader Context: Precarious Labour in Canadian Academia
This strike reflects systemic issues: over 50% of university instructors are sessional, facing low pay and no security. In arts, it's acute—Halifax's arts workers juggle gigs amid rising rents. Recent disputes at Laurentian (faculty strike Jan-Feb 2026) and Yukon University highlight wage-security tensions post-pandemic.
Federal data shows graduate student employment often below living wage thresholds, fueling union drives. Solutions? Provinces like Ontario tie funding to fair labor standards.
Stakeholder Perspectives: Arts Community Weighs In
Union reps decry "undignified" pay eroding talent retention, while admin cites vulnerability to international student caps and economic woes. Students back strikers, seeing aligned interests in quality education. Broader voices, like CAUT, advocate full-time conversions to curb precarity.
Explore research assistant jobs or faculty positions for stable paths.
Path Forward: Resolutions and Lessons
Possible outcomes: mediated talks, arbitration, or prolonged action risking term incompletes. Historical precedents show strikes averaging 2-4 weeks yield 10-20% raises. For workers, unionizing empowers; for admins, proactive equity aids recruitment.
NSCAD's case offers insights for higher ed career advice, stressing contracts with security clauses.
Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash
Actionable Insights for Academic Job Seekers
- Negotiate contracts: Prioritize hourly guarantees and benefits.
- Unionize early: Builds leverage, as at NSCAD.
- Diversify: Combine TA/RA with postdoc or industry gigs.
- Track trends: Monitor university jobs in stable provinces.
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