Just days before students return for a new school year, unionized support staff at Ontario's community colleges went on a strike Thursday morning, hours after the Ontario Public Service Employees Union announced that its members would not return to work until a new contract is negotiated.
The province-wide strike went into effect at 12:01 a.m.
Students, including those from the Ontario College Student Alliance, who are concerned how the walkout will affect the school year, have asked negotiators to push for a settlement.
However, despite their worries, some students say they are supporting the strike because it's in their interest to ensure good working conditions.
"A big reason is because a large percentage of George Brown support workers specifically are George Brown alumni," Daniel MacDonald, a spokesperson for George Brown's student association, told The Canadian Press.
Outside, in front of the Toronto college's St. James campus, support staff waved signs and chanted.
Marilou Martin, a job placement co-ordinator who has been with George Brown for 25 years, told The Canadian Press this was the first time she's ever been on strike.
"My job has always been to serve students, so not being able to do that is of course difficult," she said.
Striking staff also rallied at Durham College campuses in Whitby and Oshawa.
OPSEU represents about 8,000 cleaners, food service staff and registration officers at the province's 24 colleges.
The chairman of the OPSEU bargaining committee said they will continue to operate and have contingency plans to keep classes going. But the union has warned students to expect delays accessing school services through the strike action once the fall semester beings Tuesday.
"We tried to reach an accommodation with management negotiators but it became very clear as we approached the strike deadline that they were not prepared to meet us on terms we could accept," Rob Bemister said in a statement.
"We are prepared to return to negotiations at any time but management must adopt a fresh approach."
Bemister said the colleges had demanded concessions and clawbacks to its current contract, adding that the union would have betrayed the interests of students graduating from colleges and looking for good job prospects had they accepted the deal.
The colleges had offered union members a 1.5 per cent salary increase for each of the next two years and a 1.75 per cent increase in the third year. The union has been seeking a three per cent increase and protection against losing jobs to part-time and temporary positions.
Gerry Barker, chairman of the college's bargaining team, told The Canadian Press that the schools had offered to increase the average salary to more than $59,000 a year and had asked for no concessions.
"Very, very disappointed that we were not able to reach an agreement. I honestly believe that what we put on the table was a good and fair offer," Barker told the news service.
Barker said the contract dispute could not be settled on the picket line and asked the union to return to the bargaining table.
Sid Ryan, president of the Ontario Federation of Labour said the strike was a "courageous stand to protect the future of work in Ontario." He will join striking workers at Durham College campuses in Whitby and Oshawa on Thursday.
The last time support workers went on strike was in 1979.
With files from The Canadian Press
