Ontario college faculty union gives 5 days’ notice of labour action

The union representing Ontario’s college faculties says it could begin some form of labour action next Thursday.

The Ontario Public Service Employees Union will be in a legal strike position as of Saturday but has to give five days’ notice before embarking on a strike.

OPSEU says it gave the necessary notice today.

The union says it will meet with the College Employer Council, the bargaining agent for Ontario’s 24 public colleges, for non-binding mediation on Monday and Tuesday and remains committed to “bargaining productively.”

But it says that unless an agreement is reached in mediation, it seems unlikely that a deal that would protect its members could come without “the urgency of labour action.”

Graham Lloyd, the council’s CEO, says he’s disappointed the union chose to give notice just days before mediation was set to resume.

“We urge OPSEU to enter mediation this week with more realistic demands so that we can get a deal and avoid an unnecessary strike,” he said in a statement.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 3, 2025.