In a last-ditch effort to avoid a strike at public colleges across Ontario, college negotiators and the faculty union have agreed to return to the bargaining table.
The College Employer Council (CEC) and the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/SEFPO) will hold a virtual meeting on Thursday, ahead of the union’s strike deadline at 12:01 a.m. on Friday. A Ministry of Labour mediator will also be taking part in the talks.
“We are committed to making changes jointly through a comprehensive consultative process,” the CEC said in a statement. “We look forward to concluding these negotiations for the sake of the students, faculty, and the greater college community.”
OPSEU announced the strike deadline on Monday, threatening to walk off the job if the CEC does not agree to voluntary binding interest arbitration.
The CEC said it had asked the union bargaining team to meet face-to-face Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, as well. However, OPSEU told the colleges it wasn’t possible to meet those days due to “other commitments.”
Ontario college faculty have been working to rule since December to avoid possible strike action. But, after months of bargaining, educators voted to reject the CEC’s final offer on February 17.
“Faculty rejected the CEC’s forced offer in February but extended an olive branch by agreeing to go to binding arbitration to settle outstanding issues without labour disruption,” said College Faculty Bargaining Team Chair JP Hornick. “The CEC has refused until now, but if real progress is being made at the table, faculty are open to extending the strike deadline.”
OPSEU represents approximately 16,000 college educators at the 24 public colleges in Ontario.
