Ontario College Staff Ready to Strike as Deadline Approaches

URGENT UPDATE: As crunch talks continue, approximately 10,000 support staff at Ontario’s 24 publicly-funded colleges are poised to strike as the midnight deadline approaches tonight. Staff, represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), have been negotiating for a new contract for months, but tensions escalated in August when they moved toward potential strike action.

The heart of the dispute centers on job security in a college sector under duress, exacerbated by a significant drop in international student enrollment. This downturn has led to substantial revenue losses, resulting in thousands of job cuts and campus closures.

Christine Kelsey, chair of the College Support Full-Time Bargaining Team, emphasized the urgency of the negotiations in a statement to Global News. “Today, we are bargaining up to a midnight strike deadline in a round that is, at its core, about job security,” she stated. “We are trying to stabilize the system—not just for this term, but for generations to come. If that doesn’t change by midnight, 10,000 full-time support staff are ready to strike for the future of student support.”

Meanwhile, the College Employer Council has acknowledged inquiries from the press but has not provided an update on the bargaining progress. The Council, which negotiates on behalf of public colleges, previously described OPSEU’s demands as unreasonable. They insist that promises to avoid campus closures or staff reductions are not feasible, especially given a reported 50% drop in college enrollment and revenues.

Graham Lloyd, CEO of the College Employer Council, voiced concerns in a September 5 statement, asserting that “no organization managing a drop like this can commit to these out-of-touch demands.” He warned that the union’s requests threaten the sustainability of Ontario’s college system.

As the clock ticks down to midnight, the stakes are high for both staff and students. Should the strike commence, it could significantly disrupt academic operations and student support services across Ontario’s colleges, impacting thousands of students who rely on these services.

The situation is developing rapidly, and both sides remain at the bargaining table with the possibility of a strike looming larger with each passing hour. Watch for further updates as this critical situation unfolds.