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CBC
3 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Support staff at Ontario colleges vote to authorize strike, if necessary: union
The union that represents thousands of support staff at Ontario's colleges says the workers have voted to authorize a strike. The Ontario Public Service Employees Union says in a news release that members voted 77.3 per cent to authorize a strike, if necessary, to "secure respect at the bargaining table" and secure a contract the workers deserve. It says the vote arms the bargaining team with a historic strike mandate as it heads back to the table on Wednesday for conciliation talks. The College Employer Council, the bargaining agent for the province's publicly funded colleges, did not immediately respond to the strike authorization but referred to an earlier news release which stated the union's demands would expose colleges to more than $900 million in additional costs. The council said the union's wants include include six additional paid days off and 10 paid days off for family care. The union, which also represents faculty at Ontario colleges, said last month that close to 10,000 college faculty and staff have either been let go or are projected to lose their jobs amid hundreds of program cancellations and suspensions since last year. "As we head back to the table on August 20th for conciliation, we need to make real progress. And now, you've armed your bargaining team with a historic strike mandate to demand it," OPSEU wrote Friday when it announced the results of the authorization vote. The union has accused Ontario's colleges of inflating the costs of the union's proposals. An arbitrated faculty contract between the union and the employer council released last month said the federal government's 2024 cap on international students led to a dramatic decline in enrolment and tuition revenue. The employer council said in a statement Wednesday that it was the union that was misrepresenting demands, and that the dispute was occurring "in the context of the worst financial crises that colleges have faced in decades." "A strike is unnecessary and a strike cannot make unrealistic demands affordable for colleges," the employer council said.
CTV News
3 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
OPSEU says support staff at Ontario colleges vote to authorize strike, if necessary
FILE - JP Hornick, President of OPSEU/SEFPO, stands with supporters outside of Centennial College in Toronto, Wednesday, July 9, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young The union that represents thousands of support staff at Ontario's colleges says the workers have voted to authorize a strike. The Ontario Public Service Employees Union says in a news release that members voted 77.3 per cent to authorize a strike, if necessary, to 'secure respect at the bargaining table' and secure a contract the workers deserve. It says the vote arms the bargaining team with a historic strike mandate as it heads back to the table on Wednesday for conciliation talks. The College Employer Council, the bargaining agent for the province's publicly funded colleges, did not immediately respond to the strike authorization but referred to an earlier news release which stated the union's demands would expose colleges to more than $900 million in additional costs. The council said the union's wants include include six additional paid days off and 10 paid days off for family care. The union, which also represents faculty at Ontario colleges, said last month that close to 10,000 college faculty and staff have either been let go or are projected to lose their jobs amid hundreds of program cancellations and suspensions since last year. 'As we head back to the table on August 20th for conciliation, we need to make real progress. And now, you've armed your bargaining team with a historic strike mandate to demand it,' OPSEU wrote Friday when it announced the results of the authorization vote. The union has accused Ontario's colleges of inflating the costs of the union's proposals. An arbitrated faculty contract between the union and the employer council released last month said the federal government's 2024 cap on international students led to a dramatic decline in enrolment and tuition revenue. The employer council said in a statement Wednesday that it was the union that was misrepresenting demands, and that the dispute was occurring 'in the context of the worst financial crises that colleges have faced in decades.' 'A strike is unnecessary and a strike cannot make unrealistic demands affordable for colleges,' the employer council said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 16, 2025.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
OPSEU says support staff at Ontario colleges vote to authorize strike, if necessary
The union that represents thousands of support staff at Ontario's colleges says the workers have voted to authorize a strike. The Ontario Public Service Employees Union says in a news release that members voted 77.3 per cent to authorize a strike, if necessary, to "secure respect at the bargaining table" and secure a contract the workers deserve. It says the vote arms the bargaining team with a historic strike mandate as it heads back to the table on Wednesday for conciliation talks. The College Employer Council, the bargaining agent for the province's publicly funded colleges, did not immediately respond to the strike authorization but referred to an earlier news release which stated the union's demands would expose colleges to more than $900 million in additional costs. The council said the union's wants include include six additional paid days off and 10 paid days off for family care. The union, which also represents faculty at Ontario colleges, said last month that close to 10,000 college faculty and staff have either been let go or are projected to lose their jobs amid hundreds of program cancellations and suspensions since last year. "As we head back to the table on August 20th for conciliation, we need to make real progress. And now, you've armed your bargaining team with a historic strike mandate to demand it," OPSEU wrote Friday when it announced the results of the authorization vote. The union has accused Ontario's colleges of inflating the costs of the union's proposals. An arbitrated faculty contract between the union and the employer council released last month said the federal government's 2024 cap on international students led to a dramatic decline in enrolment and tuition revenue. The employer council said in a statement Wednesday that it was the union that was misrepresenting demands, and that the dispute was occurring "in the context of the worst financial crises that colleges have faced in decades." "A strike is unnecessary and a strike cannot make unrealistic demands affordable for colleges," the employer council said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 16, 2025. The Canadian Press
Toronto Sun
3 days ago
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
OPSEU says support staff at Ontario colleges vote to authorize strike, if necessary
Published Aug 16, 2025 • 1 minute read OPSEU. Photo by DARREN BROWN / POSTMEDIA NETWORK FILES The union that represents thousands of support staff at Ontario's colleges says the workers have voted to authorize a strike. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The Ontario Public Service Employees Union says in a news release that members voted 77.3% to authorize a strike, if necessary, to 'secure respect at the bargaining table' and secure a contract the workers deserve. It says the vote arms the bargaining team with a historic strike mandate as it heads back to the table on Wednesday for conciliation talks. The College Employer Council, the bargaining agent for the province's publicly funded colleges, did not immediately provide a response to the strike authorization vote when asked. The union, which also represents faculty at Ontario colleges, said last month that close to 10,000 college faculty and staff have either been let go or are projected to lose their jobs amid hundreds of program cancellations and suspensions since last year. An arbitrated faculty contract between the union and the employer council released last month says the federal government's 2024 cap on international students led to a dramatic decline in enrolment and tuition revenue. RECOMMENDED VIDEO Crime Toronto & GTA Canada Toronto Blue Jays Sunshine Girls
CBC
09-07-2025
- Business
- CBC
Cuts at Ontario colleges leading to nearly 10,000 job losses, union says
The Ontario Public Service Employees Union says close to 10,000 college faculty and staff have either been let go or are projected to lose their jobs amid hundreds of program cancellations and suspensions since last year. The union representing some 55,000 college faculty and support staff says that amounts to "one of the largest mass layoffs in Ontario's history" as colleges grapple with a funding crisis. An arbitrated faculty contract between the union and the College Employer Council released last week says the federal government's cap on international students led to a dramatic decline in enrolment and tuition revenue, and the cancellation or suspension of more than 600 college programs. The document shows 23 of 24 colleges in Ontario have reported a 48 per cent decrease in first-semester enrolment of international students from September 2023 to September 2024. It says 19 colleges have reported current and planned staff reductions totalling more than 8,000 employees as of June, noting the data was incomplete as some colleges hadn't reported their layoffs. The union says the layoffs and program suspensions will have generational impacts and college workers are prepared to fight back against the cuts.
