Ontario college strike cancels classes for about half a million students
Classes were cancelled for about half a million students in Ontario on Monday as faculty at the province’s colleges went on strike.
The labour dispute involving more than 12,000 professors, instructors, counsellors, and librarians began late Sunday, after the two sides couldn’t resolve their differences by a deadline of 12: 01 a. m. Monday.
Both sides say there are currently no talks scheduled to end the dispute that involves Ontario’s 24 colleges.
The Ontario Public Services Employees Union says it is up to the College Employer Council, which bargains for the colleges, to re- start talks.
The union presented a proposal Saturday night that called for the number of full time faculty to match the number of faculty members on contract but the colleges say it would add more than $ 250 million costs each year.
OPSEU bargaining team chair JP Hornick says the union remains ready to get back to negotiations.
“If the colleges approach the mediator, or us, and say they’re finally willing to start talking then we would be at that table in a heartbeat,” she said.
Don Sinclair, CEO of the College Employer Council, said the colleges have put a four- year-agreement that offers a 7.75 per cent pay increase on the table which it would like faculty to vote on. “We have an offer that has no take aways and does ensure a reasonable increase to the faculty and partial load,” he said. “So, I’m a little bit miffed, for lack of a better word.”
Sinclair said he understands students will be frustrated by the strike but urged them to be patient when crossing the picket lines.
“We will get through this,” he said. “It could be a bit protracted, but I understand their concerns.”
Advanced Education Minister Deb Matthews said she hopes the dispute is settled soon.
“I think we have to let the collective bargaining process work and give it the space to do that,” she said. “But it’s very important for students that they do get back to the table and find a resolution and get students back in the classroom.”
More than 45,000 people have signed a petition calling for a tuition reimbursement for each day lost to a strike. Matthews would not comment on that idea or the possibility of eventual back-to-work legislation, saying she wouldn’t discuss hypotheticals.