Ontario College Support Staff Go on Strike Over Job Security and Wage Demands

Strategic Insights -

Dozens of support staff members picketed outside Humber College's campus in north Etobicoke on Thursday, as part of a larger protest involving 10,000 members of the Ontario Public Service Employees' Union (OPSEU). The union is fighting for job security, citing the province's colleges grappling with serious financial challenges, including layoffs, program cuts, and campus shutdowns. OPSEU says it is fighting for quality services kept in-house, instead of contracted out, to be done by support staff who know how to do the job and have institutional knowledge.

Key Takeaways:

  • The strike involves 10,000 members of the Ontario Public Service Employees' Union (OPSEU) who picketed outside colleges across Ontario.
  • The union is fighting for job security, citing the province's colleges grappling with serious financial challenges, including layoffs, program cuts, and campus shutdowns.
  • OPSEU says it is fighting for quality services kept in-house, instead of contracted out, to be done by support staff who know how to do the job and have institutional knowledge.
  • The colleges' employers, represented by the College Employer Council, say they cannot accept the union's demands, which they deem "fiscally impossible," and have proposed a $145 million boost to wages and benefits.
  • The strike has caused disruptions to student services and some labs, but faculty are not a part of the job action, and classes are expected to go ahead as scheduled.
  • The union is also calling on the Ford government to stop diverting funds for public colleges toward private training companies.
  • OPSEU has representatives from various departments, including disability services, library technologists, trades, co-op placement coordinators, food services, and IT, who are fighting for their job security.

Statistics:

  • 10,000 members of OPSEU are on strike across Ontario.
  • 60,000 staff and faculty work in the college sector.
  • 10,000 jobs have been lost in the college sector over the past year alone.
  • The Ontario colleges have seen a 50% drop in enrolments and revenues due to federal cuts to international students.
  • The colleges' employers have proposed a $145 million boost to wages and benefits.
  • Ontario's government has made "record" investments into post-secondary education, including $2 billion in the past 18 months.

Sources:

  • OPPSEU (Ontario Public Service Employees' Union)
  • The College Employer Council
  • The Ontario government
  • Nathan Bawaan, Kristin Rushowy; www.thestar.com