Support staff at publicly funded colleges in Ontario have initiated a strike after failing to reach a new contract agreement by midnight.
Around 10,000 full-time college support staff, represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), are pushing for improved wages, benefits, and job security. The union officially entered a legal strike position as of 12:01 a.m.
In addition to the support staff, the OPSEU also represents faculty members at Ontario colleges. The union has highlighted a concerning trend with nearly 10,000 college faculty and staff facing layoffs or job loss projections. This comes amidst numerous program cancellations and suspensions over the past year.
Ontario’s colleges have been grappling with financial challenges, with a growing reliance on revenue from international students due to limited provincial funding and a prolonged tuition freeze. The situation worsened when the federal government imposed restrictions on international student intake.
The College Employer Council argues that the union’s demands could lead to over $900 million in additional costs for colleges. However, the OPSEU disputes this claim.
The employer council has put forth proposals including monetary and benefit enhancements, improved severance packages, better vacation rights, and more.