TORONTO — The union representing faculty at Ontario's 24 public colleges is moving closer toward going on strike.
It's requested a "no board" report from the Ministry of Labour, which would kickstart a 16-day countdown toward a potential withdrawal of services.
The request, announced Thursday, was made despite the fact the union is still scheduled to meet in early January for a second round of mediated talks with the College Employer Council.
The CEC issued a statement saying it's "shocked by OPSEU escalation during mediation."
Graham Lloyd, CEO of the CEC, said "A strike at Ontario's colleges is wholly unnecessary and causes uncertainty, and disruption for students and faculty in a time of financial instability," adding that the colleges continue to urge OPSEU to agree to binding arbitration.
Laurie Rancourt, chair of the management bargaining team, described the union's move as disappointing, as it came at a time when students were busy studying for exams.
"Students and faculty should not have to endure unneeded stress at this time of year, particularly considering the union is making demands it knows the colleges can never agree to."
But OPSEU said the threat of strike action is necessary to get the CEC to move off proposed contract contract language the union contends will erode working conditions, job security and the quality of education.
The acting chair of the faculty bargaining team, Michelle Arbour, said "Our college system is crumbling. We can't sit back and let its failed stewards bulldoze education."
Arbour called the union's demands "an antidote aimed at protecting the core mandate of the colleges as places of education."
She said there's been "runaway administrative bloat" in the college system over the last 10 years, with three times more managers being added than full-time faculty.
"Meanwhile, half of our members work contract to contract, with little to no benefits."
