Ontario College Faculty Union Issues Strike Notice, Classes May Halt Next Week

Ontario’s 24 public colleges may face a significant disruption as the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), representing college faculty, has issued a five-day strike notice. Faculty members could walk off the job as early as Thursday next week, potentially cutting short the winter semester for thousands of students.

The union, representing approximately 15,000 full-time and part-time professors, instructors, counsellors, and librarians, has been without a collective agreement since September.

Failed Mediation Efforts and Ongoing Talks

Non-binding mediation sessions between OPSEU and the College Employer Council (CEC) in December failed to produce an agreement. The two sides are scheduled to meet again on January 6 and 7 as students return to classes, but the union warns that mediation may not resolve the dispute.

“If we cannot reach an agreement in mediation, it is unlikely that a deal that protects faculty futures can be reached without the urgency of labour action,” OPSEU said in a statement.

The union has also filed an unfair labour practice complaint with the ministry, accusing the CEC of bargaining in bad faith.

Key Issues: Job Security and Workload

Job security remains a major sticking point. OPSEU claims that over half of faculty, librarians, and counsellors are on semester-long contracts with no long-term stability.

“Over the last decade, we’ve added just under 100,000 students but only 500 full-time faculty have been hired during that time throughout the system,” said Ravi Ramkissoonsingh, chair of OPSEU’s bargaining team. “Administrators have grown by three times that much.”

The union is also advocating for reduced teaching hours and increased self-directed time for faculty, which the CEC has deemed unrealistic.

Colleges Cite Financial Challenges

CEC CEO Graham Lloyd argues that the union’s demands are unfeasible given the financial pressures colleges face.

“These demands are something that colleges couldn’t accept in the best of times, but especially in the current climate,” Lloyd said, citing a recent cap on international students that has significantly reduced revenue.

“There is one estimate that the colleges will be losing approximately $1.7 billion over two years in their revenue streams,” he noted.

The strike threat places the winter semester in jeopardy, leaving students and faculty in uncertainty. As the January 6 and 7 mediation sessions approach, both sides face mounting pressure to find common ground and avoid a labour disruption that could affect thousands across the province.