THUNDER BAY - With faculty and teaching staff at colleges across Ontario walking the picket line instead of to the classroom, students at Confederation College say they are worried what impact a prolonged strike will have on the academic year.
“I was very concerned,” said international student Jeffrey Areas. “I have a scholarship and I’m just here for another month. If I lose classes that might affect my scholarship.
“They say I don’t have to worry about that, but I just don’t know."
More than 12,000 faculty members at 24 colleges across Ontario went on strike as of 12:01 a.m. on Monday, which included approximately 150 full time professors at Confederation College.
Negotiations between the Ontario Public Service Employees Union and the College Employer Council have been ongoing since July and broke down on the weekend when the Employer Council rejected the union’s latest offer.
“We’ve been at the table since July, and essentially the College Employer Council has not negotiated with us,” said Rebecca Ward, president of OPSEU Local 732 Academic Union at Confederation College. “This issue isn’t about money, it’s about stabilizing the workforce in the college, and improving the quality of education that is being delivered.”
All academic programs have been cancelled while the strike is ongoing and Confederation College president Jim Madder said administration will work with students and faculty to make up lost classroom time, work placements, and material when the strike ends.
“But it’s really difficult right now to figure out what it looks like because a return to work scenario or memo which is found to occur at the end of the strike, will to a major extent dictate how we approach that,” Madder said.
A petition is circulating online demanding students be reimbursed for every day of the work stoppage. The petition has collected more than 46,000 signatures.
During a faculty strike in the 1988-89 academic year, the school year was extended to make up for lost time, which Madder said might be an option. But that could be a problem for some students.
C.J. Betcher, a travel and tourism student from Minnesota, said he may not be able to extend his school year into the spring or summer months.
“I’m a little worried,” he said. “I have a summer job lined up, so I’m worried I will not be able to go to that.”
Betcher added he is also worried he won’t be able to achieve all his goals in his classes this semester because of the lost time.
“I came here for a good educational experience and I’m saddened by the strike,” he said.
Operations at Confederation College continue as normal, with slight changes to operating hours for some services. But the Student Union of Confederation College is encouraging students to continue to use the campus and make the best out of a bad situation.
“The important message right now is for the faculty and union and the college to come to some type of agreement that is fair and have our students come back and for our students to use this time, take the time that you need to finish up your assignments and study for your exams so you don’t fall behind,” said SUCCI president Jodi Afonso.
Any students with questions are welcomed to come to the SUCCI office or consult the student portal online that includes information about the strike and what resources are available to them.
“No one’s happy during a strike situation,” Madder said. “With our students, with SUCCI, our International Office, with our CICE Office we are providing social support, recreational support, but people are here to learn and that is the ultimate element and it will be frustrating.”
Anyone travelling to the Confederation College campus can expect delays crossing the picket line and Thunder Bay Transit buses will be making stops just off campus. People are reminded to be careful when driving near the picket line.
Ward said she does not know how long faculty will be outside on the picket line instead of in the classroom.
“We’re frustrated. We do see that this was completely avoidable. There have been essentially no negotiations happening, the college hasn’t moved an inch on what they are wanting us to accept, that this effort has been planned and it’s about cost savings for them. The ball is entirely in their court and we would love for them to meet us in the middle.”
