Students FAQ | College Employer Council

A strike may take different forms. In general, it is a refusal to work in the normal way that is designed to slow down, disrupt, or stop operations. A strike is organized by a Union as a form of protest typically in an attempt to force the employer to agree to their demands.
Unfortunately, in the Colleges, when a faculty member chooses to apply pressure by slowing down, disrupting or stopping work, these actions lead to varying degrees of negative impact on students.

Work-to-rule, partial walk-out, rotating strike, and full walk-out are all forms of strike.
In work-to-rule, employees perform only the duties that have been assigned, strictly adhering to policy and contract obligations.
In a partial walk-out, employees refuse to perform some of their assigned duties.
In a rotating strike, employees walk out entirely for short periods of time at different institutions.
In a full walk-out strike, employees withdraw all their services and choose to walk the picket line.

Labour action does mean strike. Strike action can take various forms, which include: work-to-rule, partial walk-out, rotating strike, all the way up to a full walk-out.
Only the Union can determine what forms of strike action will occur and when.

In work-to-rule, employees perform only the duties that have been assigned, strictly adhering to policy and contract obligations.

In work-to-rule, teachers continue to teach their classes and perform duties as assigned.

No.
Introducing terms and conditions does not affect the ability of full-time and partial-load professors and instructors to teach. Nor will it affect the way in which classes are delivered.

Work-to-rule should not affect your classes.
Work-to-rule means employees continue to do their job performing duties they have been assigned such as teaching and grading.

The Colleges cannot force faculty to go on strike.
Only the Union team can determine what form of strike action it engages in (work-to-rule, partial walk-out, rotating strikes, walk-out).

They can last for a day or for an extended period of time.
In 2017, the Union engaged in a full walk-out strike that lasted for more than 5 weeks. Students were still able to complete their semester.

Yes, campuses will remain open subject to pandemic restrictions.
When picket lines occur, picketers cannot prevent access to those looking to enter campus.
In the event of a full walk-out which includes picket lines, information will be provided by your College on how to safely access campus.

Go to your College website for updates on the labour dispute.
If you plan to visit campus, leave extra time for travelling to the college as picket lines may be set up at campus entrances and limit traffic flow.
If there is a full walk-out strike and you take transit to campus, be aware that transit buses will drop students off outside of the campus to respect picket lines.

The CEC website contains information on the bargaining process and an ongoing archive of proposals from both parties.
Additionally, all news updates are published across CEC social media channels and the website.
Please visit CollegeEmployerCouncil.ca or follow the CEC on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, or YouTube.

The Colleges will continue to operate until the Union escalates strike action or a new collective agreement is agreed upon.
Only the Union can determine how long faculty will engage in what they refer to as work-to-rule.

The Union has publicly stated that what they refer to as work-to-rule will not negatively affect students.
If your teacher has said they cannot help you, reach out to the department chair, associate dean, or dean and let them know.

The government does not get involved with College bargaining unless absolutely necessary.
In 2017, the government legislated faculty back to work after 5 weeks of engaging in a full walk-out. The Union is currently in the process of challenging this decision.

Both parties submit unresolved proposals to a mutually agreed upon arbitrator.
The arbitrator will first try to mediate and have the parties come to a mutual agreement on outstanding proposals.
If the parties are unable to reach a conclusion, the arbitrator will step in and issue a ruling.
Arbitration is the process of having an independent person or body officially appointed to settle a dispute on the interpretation, application, administration or alleged violation of the collective agreement.

Like mediation, conciliation is a voluntary, flexible, confidential, and interest-based process. The parties seek to reach a settlement with the assistance of the conciliator, appointed by the Ministry of Labour which acts as a neutral third party.

The duration of conciliation lasts as long as both parties are willing to meet.
Either party can end conciliation and ask for a no board report whenever they like.
The conciliator appointed by the Ministry of Labour will issue a no board report whenever a party requests it, or within 14 days of appointment, whichever first occurs. The parties may agree to extend or the minister order it based on the recommendation of the conciliator officer.

A referendum by union members deciding whether or not to go on strike. An affirmative strike vote authorizes union leadership to give strike notice.
This is called a strike mandate.
A strike vote of College Employees is supervised by the Ontario Labour Relations Board.
The vote will be decided by a 50% + 1 majority of those who cast their vote. If only a few people vote, those voters will decide this question for everyone across the province.

No, there will not be a strike in the fall semester.
A strike requires a few conditions with specific timelines to be met. There is no possibility of these requirements and timelines occurring in the fall semester.

Before a strike can occur, 5 requirements must be met. Not all requirements have been met at this time.
A strike requires the union bargaining team having a strike mandate. Which they received on October 18, 2024.
The parties need to enter/attend conciliation. The parties continue to be in conciliation.
Conciliation must fail with either party requesting a no-board report. Neither party has requested a no-board report.
Once a no-board report is issued, 16 calendar days must pass.
The union must provide the Colleges with 5 days’ notice.

The parties mutually agreed to enter non-binding mediation with experienced mediator, William Kaplan.
Both parties agreed not to escalate negotiations through a strike or lock-out before or during mediation.
Mediation will take place December 6-8, 2024

Both parties will submit proposals to the agreed upon neutral mediator.
The mediator will work with the parties to find common ground and come to an agreement.
If the parties do not come to an agreement, the mediator cannot force either party to change their position.