Ontario college faculty union takes step toward strike

Students walk on the Conestoga College campus in Kitchener, Ont., Saturday, April 27, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nick Iwanyshyn

The union representing faculty members at Ontario’s 24 public colleges has requested a no-board report from the Ministry of Labour, which could put them in a legal strike position in the new year.

The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) made the request on Thursday, saying the reason was that the College Employer Council (CEC), the colleges’ bargaining unit, was unwilling to agree to “a fair contract without concessions.”

The two sides had agreed to enter a non-binding mediation from Dec. 6 to 8, but no agreement was reached.

“Despite nearly 30 days of bargaining, four days of conciliation, a historic strike mandate, and three days of mediation, the College Employer Council continues to table a contract that amounts to a step backward for college faculty, worsening our working conditions – all while helping manufacture a crisis that threatens cuts to frontline members at Ontario’s colleges,” OPSEU said in a statement.

Once the no-board report is issued, it starts a 17-day countdown to the union being in a legal strike position. Colleges could also give a notice of a lockout.

The current collective agreement expired this September. The following month, OPSEU said union members, including full-time and partial-load professors, instructors, and librarians, voted in favour of strike action.

In addition, the union filed an unfair labour practice complaint with the ministry, claiming that the CEC is bargaining in bad faith.

“Despite repeated, unmet requests for appropriate disclosure in response to federal and provincial decisions, the CEC and the Colleges have begun implementing imposed terms and conditions that will negatively impact students’ education,” the union said. “Up until this point, we have utilized every tool at our disposal to propel bargaining towards a contract that improves the working lives of college faculty across Ontario. The CEC has demonstrated that they will not move forward unless compelled—so push has come to shove.”

The two parties are scheduled to meet again on Jan. 6 and 7 for mediation, and the union is urging the CEC to review its previous proposals and remove all concessions.

OPSEU accused colleges of implementing an “austerity agenda.” The union said the CEC is refusing to remove language in the proposed contract that it claimed would erode working conditions, job security, and the quality of education.

The union also argued that colleges have added more managers than full-time faculty staff.

“Our college system is crumbling—we can’t sit back and let its failed stewards bulldoze education,” Michelle Arbour, acting chair of the faculty bargaining team, said. “Our basic demands are an antidote, aimed at protecting the core mandate of the Colleges as places of education, not cash-grabs.”

Meanwhile, the CEC said in a statement that a strike is “unnecessary” and will cause uncertainty and disruption to students and faculty.

It asserted that the union’s demands reduce teaching time, which does not improve student success.

“This move from the academic bargaining team is deeply disappointing, especially at a time when students are busy studying for exams.” Dr. Laurie Rancourt, chair of the CEC bargaining team, said. “Students and faculty should not have to endure unneeded stress at this time of year, particularly considering the union is making demands it knows the colleges can never agree to, such as reducing their class time by 25 per cent, to less than 9 hours per week.”.

The CEC further argued that OPSEU’s demands ignore the reality that colleges are projected to lose hundreds of millions in the coming years due to declining enrollment and higher costs.

Several Ontario colleges have already announced they’re suspending programs and reducing staff amid financial struggles and the federal government’s cap on international students.

“We urge OPSEU to reconsider their approach in favour of an outcome that is fair and sustainable for everyone,” the CEC, noting that it cannot accept any demands that would jeopardize students, faculty, and the future of colleges.