This is an archive of news stories and research from the National Union of Public and General Employees. Please see our new site - https://nupge.ca - for the most current information.
“Our members are sending a clear message that they want to see a negotiated settlement. I’m sure an agreement is in reach, so let’s get back to the bargaining table and get it.” — Warren (Smokey) Thomas, President of OPSEU/SEFPO/NUPGE
Toronto (14 Dec. 2021) — Warren (Smokey) Thomas, President of OPSEU/SEFPO/NUPGE, says a strike mandate shows the union’s college faculty members want a collective agreement reached at the bargaining table.
This weekend, OPSEU/SEFPO/NUPGE’s faculty members voted 59% in favour of job action to back contract demands in a strike vote that was supervised by the provincial Ministry of Labour.
“Our members are sending a clear message that they want to see a negotiated settlement,” Thomas said. “I’m sure an agreement is in reach, so let’s get back to the bargaining table and get it.”
Some 15,000 college faculty have been without a contract since September 30. Talks with the College Employer Council (CEC), which represents Ontario college employers, began in July. Management refused to negotiate during conciliation and could force a vote on a CEC offer, which is an option as part of the process.
Bargaining priorities focus on supporting students, contract faculty
JP Hornick, the bargaining team chairperson, said faculty members voted on demands that would support students and provide more stability for contract partial-load faculty, noting management had maintained they would never agree to them.
“I hope this strike vote will be the CEC’s incentive to start negotiating for real,” Hornick added. “All of faculty’s demands are extremely low-cost or no-cost to the employer. Due to Bill 124, we’re not bargaining compensation. So, our focus is on what’s needed to support students in classrooms and online, and on their mental health and academic needs.”
OPSEU disappointed management won't come back to the table
The faculty bargaining team had also offered to work under the existing contract with no threat of strike if the CEC agrees to not lock out or try to bypass the bargaining table.
On December 13, OPSEU/SEFPO/NUPGE expressed disappointment that the CEC is imposing employment conditions on college faculty following a strike vote this weekend. The CEC signalled it intended to impose a series of conditions effective that day and the faculty bargaining team gave 5 days’ notice that members can begin working to rule, effective December 18.
Not too late to reach a fair deal
“We can still reach a settlement at the bargaining table,” said Thomas. “Bypassing negotiations and creating hard feelings will not help students and will sour the labour climate at the colleges — everyone loses.”
Hornick says the CEC’s approach is heavy handed, unnecessary, and is a huge mistake. “To be clear, the CEC has chosen their own form of labour disruption over further negotiations or voluntary binding interest arbitration, which are both still on the table from faculty. What’s worse is that the College Presidents are silent on this move." Hornick also noted that the terms the CEC and the colleges are imposing are not final and can be changed in the coming weeks and months if they choose to.