Community college support staff to vote on a strike mandate

Support workers at Ontario’s community colleges are being urged by their union to vote for a strike mandate.

The Ontario Public Service Employees Union will hold a vote Thursday for its 7,000 members to send “a loud and clear message to management by voting yes to a strong strike mandate.”

If approved, the strike mandate means union negotiators could call a strike without another members’ vote. But no specific date has been determined and it’s unclear if a strike would close schools.

Contract talks began June 3 between the union and the College Employer Council, which represents the province’s 24 colleges. The two sides met June 7 to exchange proposals and have under new regulations 90 days to bargain.

The two parties are trying to agree on a new three-year contract before the current agreement expires Aug. 31 and classes begin in September.

OPSEU has proposed a three-year wage increase of three per cent and measures to protect full-time jobs.

The union said members are worried about the ongoing loss of permanent full-time jobs, as colleges use more part-timers, temporary contract workers and agency temp workers.

With files from The Canadian Press

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today