Ontario Colleges Continue with Strike

As of October 25, 2017, the academic staff at Ontario colleges is still on strike. Each college is unique and students affected are contacted daily with an update with information about their classes, programs, graduation and fees.

The labor dispute began on Monday, October 16, 2017 and involves more than 12,000 professors, instructors, counselors, and librarians after the two sides failed to reach a new contract agreement. Some 500,000 students have been awaiting a return to school since the strike began.

The union representing the striking staff and faculty are demanding more full-time positions and an increased role in academic decision-making, with both sides agreeing that the part-time work and academic planning are central to the dispute.

According to Don Sinclair, Chief Executive Officer of the College Employer Council, no new talks were scheduled and that he doesn’t think the strike will end anytime soon and the final offer from the colleges that the faculty and staff rejected is still on the table.

Eleven of the province’s 24 public colleges have a reading week this week but picketing is continuing at all public colleges.

Colleges affected are, Algonquin, Cambrian, Canadore, Centennial, Collège Boréal, Conestoga, Confederation, Durham, Fanshawe, Fleming, George Brown, Georgian, Humber, La Cité, Lambton, Loyalist, Mohawk, Niagara, Northern, St. Clair, St. Lawrence, Sault, Seneca, and Sheridan