It is the government mandated bargaining agent representing the 24 Ontario public Colleges as employers in centralized collective bargaining with unionized staff.
The CEC provides guidance and advises on College labour relations and Human Resources management as well as is the policy holder for group benefits.
This includes: Collective bargaining, group employee benefits, CAAT pension plan, executive compensation guidelines, grievances, hiring practices, terminations, and advisory committees’ guidance and support.
The College Employer Council (CEC) and Colleges Ontario have distinctly different missions and mandates while working together on behalf of the 24 publicly-funded Ontario colleges.
The CEC primarily focuses on promoting and building positive employment and labour relations whereas Colleges Ontario focuses on policy measures and promoting the benefits of the 24 Colleges.
Collective bargaining is a key part of labour negotiations. The process of negotiating an agreement that works for the Colleges, its people and unions can be complex and take time. You can learn more about the key elements and process of collective bargaininghere.
A no board report recognizes that the parties are at an impasse and that a conciliator could not help.
Additionally, 16 days after a no board report is issued, the previous collective agreement is no longer binding.
A no board report does not prevent the parties from further bargaining.
Should the Union get a strike mandate, they will be in a legal strike position 16 days after a no board report is issued.
Should the Colleges wish to introduce new terms of employment, they will legally be able to do so 16 days after the no board report is issued.
The Union has been granted a strike mandate (a secret ballot strike vote occurs and the majority of ballots cast are in favour of striking. A strike vote can be held by the Union at any point after notice to bargain is given. That strike mandate, once given, can be used whenever the Union believes they are at an impasse in negotiations)
The Union considers negotiations to have reached impasse
The current collective agreement has expired
A conciliation “No Board” report has been issued by the Ministry of Labour
16 days from the date of the No Board Report have passed
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.
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.
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.
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