College students face delays as strike continues
Posted September 6, 2011 6:52 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
College students are in for a bumpy first day of class as a support staff strike continues at campuses across the province.
Some 8,000 workers, including administrators, librarians, IT staff and cleaners, walked off the job on Sept. 1, meaning Ontario’s 500,000 college students could face long lines and delays as they try and get back into their school routines.
Picket lines were up at many of the province’s 24 community colleges Tuesday morning. A large rally took place at Seneca College’s Newnham Campus, on Finch near Don Mills Road, between 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m.
Students were being urged to use transit to get to class, because parking on campus could be a problem, although some buses won’t cross picket lines.
The TTC reported delays on its 39 Finch E, 36 Finch W, 102 Markham and 134 Progress bus routes Tuesday morning due to the pickets at Centennial, Humber and Seneca colleges.
Counsellors who help students with their Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) loans are among the striking workers. Some colleges planned to bring in non-unionized staff to help students process applications. Other campuses have cancelled OSAP appointments for the first week of school.
Barrie’s Georgian College said approved OSAP recipients will receive their money, but new loans won’t be processed during the strike.
No new contract negotiations are scheduled with the College Employer Council and the union. College support staff hasn’t taken job action since 1979.
With files from The Canadian Press
