College support staff on strike; classes set to continue

TORONTO, Ont. – Thousands of cleaners, food and office staff at Ontario’s 24 community colleges are standing along the picket lines Thursday, after the union representing college support staff failed to reach a deal with college management.

The strike comes just days before students were set to return to class for the new fall semester, which college management says will go forward as planned.

Despite losing the service of the 8,000 workers represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, the colleges say they will continue to operate during the strike. Officials say they have plans to help students move into their residences over the weekend, and they plan to deal with any disruptions when classes resume Tuesday.

Rod Bemister, chairman of the OPSEU bargaining committee, says he expects there will be delays for students and delays in overall service at the colleges.

Contract talks stuck as workers were asking for more job security and better wages.

Before the strike, OPSEU rejected a final offer provided by the colleges which included a 4.75 per cent wage increase over a 3 year period.

The union says it went on strike because the colleges demanded too many concessions from their existing contract.

Several rallies and meetings are planned across the Greater Toronto Area Thursday.

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today