Labour troubles looming at Ontario colleges
Posted August 27, 2012 6:40 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Labour troubles are looming at Ontario colleges as the contract for nearly 10,000 teachers expires on Friday.
Teachers could walk off the job as early as Sept. 15.
The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) and the College Employer Council have been in negotiations since June, but talks stalled in July.
Last week, the Council asked the Ontario Labour Ministry for a “no board” report.
If approved, the Council could lock out faculty or impose terms as early as Sept. 18, but the union is planning to hold a strike vote before then. The vote is scheduled for Sept. 10.
“We are not surprised by this employer’s behaviour,” OPSEU president Warren “Smokey” Thomas said in a statement.
“The Colleges have ignored faculty demands, asked for major concessions, and demanded a wage freeze. Their delays and refusal to budge on key issues have demonstrated ill-will from the start of negotiations.”
OPSEU says they are concerned about workload and academic freedom as well as wages, including a proposal from the colleges to introduce a new kind of teacher, called a facilitator.
The Council argues the union’s proposals – including a 3.5 per cent wage increase over two years – would increase colleges’ costs by $200 million over two years.
There are 24 colleges in Ontario.
