The union representing support staff at Ontario’s colleges has announced that its members have voted in favor of authorizing a potential strike.
According to a news release from the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, the workers have voted with a majority of 77.3 percent to approve a strike if necessary. The union aims to secure respect during bargaining negotiations and ensure a fair contract for its members.
This significant strike mandate will empower the bargaining team as they prepare to return to the negotiating table for conciliation discussions scheduled for Wednesday.
The College Employer Council, which represents publicly funded colleges in the province, has not yet responded to the strike authorization vote.
In addition to support staff, the union also represents faculty members at Ontario colleges. Recent reports indicate that nearly 10,000 college faculty and staff have faced job cuts or are at risk of losing their positions due to program cancellations and suspensions over the past year.
A faculty contract reached through arbitration between the union and the employer council revealed that a decline in international student enrolment and tuition revenue, linked to the federal government’s 2024 cap on international students, has been a significant factor affecting Ontario colleges.