After over a month of striking, about 10,000 support workers at Ontario’s 24 public colleges have reached a tentative agreement with their employer, as announced by the union representing them on Wednesday. These workers, including librarian technicians, registrar employees, and technology support staff, had been on strike since September 11, primarily due to concerns about job security and college funding.
The support workers are set to resume work on Thursday and will soon assess the specifics of the new agreement before voting on its ratification, according to a news release from the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU). Although details of the deal were not disclosed by Christine Kelsey, the union’s bargaining team chair, she emphasized in the release that the strike was crucial to combat a plan to privatize public education and address the looming threat of 10,000 job losses and over 650 program cuts across the system.
Acknowledging the challenging negotiations with the employer, Kelsey credited the strength of the union members during the recent weeks for the progress made in the agreement. The College Employer Council (CEC) mentioned that a private mediation session held over the weekend had helped break the bargaining deadlock.
The employer stated that the tentative deal must be ratified by November 4, with picketing ceasing in the meantime. CEC CEO Graham Lloyd expressed gratitude for the workers’ return, highlighting the important role support staff play in college operations and student success.
The negotiations between OPSEU and CEC began in June, following the expiration of the previous contract in September, leading to the strike involving over 10,000 workers. The union had warned of potential job losses resulting from cuts to jobs and programs.
The union’s advocacy for job security and adequate funding for public colleges stemmed from concerns over significant layoffs. The CEC had previously contended that the union’s demands, which sought to prevent college closures, mergers, and staff reductions, were financially unfeasible given the decline in college enrollments and revenues.
In its latest statement, the union accused Premier Doug Ford’s government, though not directly involved in negotiations, of inadequately funding Ontario’s public college system. Kelsey emphasized that beyond securing a contract, the strike had raised public awareness about deliberate defunding of the college system as part of Ford’s privatization agenda.
