Faculty members at Ontario’s 24 public colleges have voted in favor of a strike mandate, according to their union.
The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) announced on Tuesday that 68% of its members voted in support of a strike mandate. This means that if negotiations with the College Employer Council (CEC) do not result in a satisfactory agreement, faculty members are prepared to go on strike.
The strike mandate was voted on by approximately 12,000 full-time and partial-load faculty members at the province’s public colleges. The vote was conducted online and in-person over a two-week period.
According to OPSEU, the main issues at stake in the negotiations include job security, academic freedom, and fair treatment for contract faculty. The union also claims that the CEC is proposing a wage freeze and cuts to benefits.
In a statement, OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas said, “Our members have sent a clear message to the CEC that they are not willing to accept a subpar contract. They are ready to take job action if necessary to protect their rights and the quality of education for their students.”
The CEC, on the other hand, maintains that it is committed to reaching a fair and reasonable agreement with the union. In a statement, the council said, “We are disappointed that the union has chosen to take this step, but we remain committed to reaching a negotiated settlement at the bargaining table.”
The current collective agreement between the faculty union and the CEC expires on August 31. Negotiations for a new agreement began in June, but have been put on hold until September 7 due to the strike mandate vote.
If a strike does occur, it would be the first time faculty members at Ontario’s public colleges have gone on strike since 2017, when a five-week strike resulted in the cancellation of classes for over 500,000 students.
Both the union and the council have expressed their desire to avoid a strike and continue negotiations in good faith. However, with the strike mandate in place, the possibility of a strike remains a looming threat.
