Strike Day 5 - Parties at standstill

The College Employer Council (CEC) assures students, parents and employees that Ontario’s 24 colleges want to resolve the bargaining standstill with Ontario Public Sector Employees Union’s (OPSEU).

On Day 5 of this job action, CEC continues to believe the only path forward is for OPSEU’s full-time support staff bargaining team to drop its demands that colleges can never accept, or proceed to arbitration. Despite a reduction of up to 50 per cent of students and a period of unprecedented losses, Ontario’s colleges have already put forward more than $145 million in enhancements, including a two per cent wage increase and certain benefit improvements that mirror those given to full-time academic staff. Additionally, CEC has offered improvements of 50 per cent to recall rights, enhanced severance pay by 50 per cent, and more disclosure regarding college decisions that may impact staffing. Important protections for full-time support staff from job loss due to contracting outside services exist in the contract.

Despite these good faith offers, OPSEU continues to be focused on demands that colleges can never accept.

“We want to achieve a deal that is fair to employees and sustainable for colleges,” said Graham Lloyd, CEO of CEC. “A strike doesn’t make unreasonable demands reasonable or affordable. We’ve offered significant improvements in job security, wages and benefits, and our door remains open once OPSEU drops the demands we have been telling them for weeks will never be acceptable. OPSEU’s current demands will cost more than $400 million and can bring college operations to a standstill. If they are not prepared to drop them, we should seek the support of a neutral mediator and arbitrator. What’s most important is that support staff are able to return to work and students can focus on their education.”

Colleges are working to minimize disruptions for students who are just beginning their fall semester.