College teachers threaten to strike on Monday

Talks broke off on Tuesday as union sees no movement on its key contract demands

The union representing Ontario college faculty has rejected the latest offer on the table and is now threatening a strike by its 12,000 members starting Monday.

Although no new talks are scheduled, both sides say they are willing to return to negotiations, which broke off after briefly resuming Tuesday.

The union said the offer from the College Employer Council, which represents the province’s 24 institutions, “did not address any of faculty’s key demands.”

However, the council says it upped its salary offer to 7.75 per cent over four years, putting full-time teachers at a maximum of $115,378. Those with a partial teaching load — between seven and 12 hours each week — would make a maximum of $154.26 an hour.

The union is seeking a 10-per-cent wage boost over three years, the council said, which along with other demands would cost the system an extra $400 million a year.

The colleges have also put forward improved benefits in an offer that “is comparable to, or better than, offers accepted recently by other publicsector employees, such as teachers, public servants and college support staff,” the council said in a memo to members.

“A strike is unnecessary and would be disruptive to hundreds of thou- sands of college students.”

The union is also pushing for more control for faculty, in part by establishing university-style “senates,” giving them a bigger say in how institutions are run, something the colleges argue is beyond the parameters of a collective agreement.

The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) says that over the years the reliance on contract and part-time jobs for many instructors has led to an explosion in precarious work, and it is seeking more full-time positions.

The colleges, however, say the union demands would lead to the loss of thousands of positions.

The union has also started a radio, online and outdoor ad campaign about their priorities in negotiations.

“By setting a strike deadline, we are giving a clear message to the employer that we expect a fair deal for college faculty before Monday morning,” said JP Hornick, head of the bargaining team for OPSEU.

Hornick said the union is “confident there is going to be movement before Monday.”