Ontario College Support Staff Strike Disrupts Student Services

Students at Fanshawe College are facing challenges as support staff begin a strike that has disrupted essential services. Approximately 10,000 support workers across Ontario’s community colleges walked off the job on October 12, 2023, following a breakdown in contract negotiations between the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) and the College Employer Council.

Anlel Yakhis and Brayden Korkola, who are currently enrolled in a program at Fanshawe College, expressed their disappointment over the situation. “We have to have classes online,” Korkola said. Yakhis added, “Yeah, just for two weeks. We have to take Chromebooks home.” The students are attempting to complete their high school credits but find themselves hindered just two weeks into the semester.

The strike has left students like Yakhis and Korkola grappling with the abrupt shift back to online learning. “Especially the transition from high school to college,” Korkola noted. “We had to do online for two years because of COVID, and it’s not what we expected when coming to college.”

Support staff play a critical role in enhancing the educational experience, and their absence is already being felt. Adam Rayfield, president of OPSEU Local 109, highlighted the impact: “Student services, things like counseling, accessibility services, the library and learning commons, the bookstore, and the print shop will all be affected. These are places that students utilize to enhance their experience.”

The strike has attracted political attention as well. Local NDP Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs), including Teresa Armstrong, Terence Kernaghan, and Peggy Sattler, joined the picket line, with Sattler attributing the strike to government underfunding. “The Ford government has refused to invest,” she stated, criticizing the government’s decision to allocate public funds to private training providers instead of supporting public colleges.

Despite the strike, Fanshawe College has confirmed that classes will continue. In a statement, the college announced, “All Fanshawe campuses will remain open, and all scheduled classes, labs, and learning activities are proceeding as usual.” It also advised that while essential student services will be available, they may be limited, and there could be longer wait times for assistance. Some non-essential services may be temporarily closed.

As the strike continues, students are left to navigate these challenges amidst a backdrop of ongoing negotiations. The situation highlights the critical importance of support staff in the educational landscape and raises questions about the future of funding for public colleges in Ontario.