College students want to head back to school

Students at Niagara College are concerned over what will become of their education as the provincewide college strike drags on through its fifth week, said student administrative council ( SAC) president Ryan Huckla.

College faculty rejected an offer by the College Employer Council Thursday morning, with 86 per cent voting to turn it down.

Ontario Public Service Employees Union ( OPSEU), which represents professors, instructors, counsellors, and librarians, said 95 per cent of the 12,841 people on the voters’ list voted.

However, in the early evening Thursday, the Ontario government said it will legislate striking college faculty back to work, starting the process of bringing the nearly five- week- long labour disruption to an end. Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne said the government would table back- towork legislation in Ontario’s legislature today, in hope of returning students to class on Monday.

“There is so much uncertainty in this situation right now. When can they get back to class and get the education they came to college for?” Huckla asked.

He said students’ feelings range across a broad spectrum, many upset and concerned and others feeling despair over the situation they are in right now.

“They need support from counsellors, assistants in the library and it’s not available to them. It’s heartbreaking for the students to have to go through this.”

While students, there are 10,000 between the two campuses, struggle with not being in the classroom and learning, Huckla said many are struggling when it comes to parttime jobs outside of school that help pay for their education and necessities.

“I’ve found a lot of students are hesitant in picking up additional hours at work or turning down work opportunities because they don’t know when they strike will end.”

In response to a question over whether the semester should be cancelled, Huckla didn’t believe that was the answer.

“The importance of carrying along with their education is key. If we cancel the semester, there are other issues that will arise from that.”

Huckla said current students could end up competing with new students that might be starting in January or September of next year.

“Losing a couple of weeks of work in December is one thing, but losing four months over the summer …”

Cancelling a semester could also have an impact on the job market as a whole, as students wouldn’t graduate and that could create a shortage of skilled workers in the workforce.

As the strike carries on, Huckla said students are still on both sides of the issue, some for striking faculty and others who just want to get back to class.

“Niagara’s SAC has remained neutral, we’re here to advocate for the students.”

Huckla said as president he’s spoken with members of bargaining teams on both sides, sent a letter to Ontario’s Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Development Deb Matthews and took part in a rally at Queen’s Park at the start of the month.

“We’ve done what we can to really get the students’ voice out there and put pressure on the government and parties involved in this situation.”

There is so much uncertainty in this situation right now. When can they get back to class and get the education they came to college for?” Student administrative council ( SAC) president Ryan Huckla