Ontario post-secondary college students simply returning to class after their winter break might quickly be on break once more — whether or not they need one or not — after the union representing school on the province’s 24 public faculties gave a five-day strike discover.
About 15,000 full-time and part-time professors and instructors, plus counsellors and librarians, might stroll off the job on Thursday, Jan. 9.
What’s taking place now?
The Ontario Public Service Workers Union (OPSEU) and Faculty Employer Council (CEC) are assembly for non-binding mediation on Jan. 6 and seven. OPSEU employees are in a authorized strike place as of Saturday (Jan. 4).
What is the union saying?
In its newest bargaining replace on Jan. 3, OPSEU stated CEC has tabled language that threatens front-line employees with austerity. The union stated most programs are being delivered by school who work on precarious contracts, with no job safety and few advantages.
Employees have been with no contract since final September.
“We remain committed to bargaining productively, as we have over the last six months, but we must also be pragmatic,” OPSEU stated in its newest assertion. “If we cannot reach an agreement in mediation, it is unlikely that a deal that protects faculty futures can be reached without the urgency of labour action.”
OPSEU stated the employer’s solely supply on the desk would depart employees worse off than their present, three-month expired settlement.
“We love our work. We want to be in our classrooms, labs, libraries, and offices, supporting students,” OPSEU stated. “But our work can’t come at the cost of floating the college system on our unpaid labour: about $24,500 per faculty member, annually.”
What is the employer saying?
In an internet replace on Monday (Jan. 6), the CEC referred to as the potential strike “wholly unnecessary” and stated it might negatively influence 450,000 college students.
“At each stage in this process, OPSEU has chosen needless escalation as opposed to working towards a fair and reasonable solution,” the CEC stated.
The employer cited “wholly unaffordable demands” from OPSEU that might price greater than $1 billion, together with a 25 per cent discount in common educating time for professors and instructors.
CEC’s assertion famous OPSEU has rejected a suggestion of binding arbitration, which was requested to settle the final contract in 2021.
“We want to avoid an unnecessary strike,” Graham Lloyd, CEO of CEC, acknowledged in a launch. “We urge OPSEU to set aside its focus on going out on strike and instead enter mediation this week with more realistic demands so we can get a deal done.”
Ontario’s faculty sector faces projected losses of $1.7 billion, CEC added.
The employer argued OPSEU is making calls for faculties can’t settle for, reminiscent of decreasing school class time by 25 per cent, to lower than 9 hours per week, on common.
“Their demands increase academic costs for colleges by 55 per cent annually,” stated administration bargaining staff chair Dr. Laurie Rancourt in a launch. “CEC remains committed to a solution without interrupting student learning. We urge OPSEU to reconsider their approach in favour of an outcome that is fair and sustainable for everyone.”
Faculties going through monetary struggles
Ontario faculties have been grappling with declining revenues amid latest federal authorities coverage modifications to restrict worldwide college students.
In December, Hamilton’s Mohawk Faculty, for instance, introduced layoffs in response to a projected $50-million deficit.
Sheridan Faculty has additionally introduced main program cuts and layoffs in response to the worldwide scholar cap.
— With information from Kate McCullough and Nicholas Keung
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