Part-time college support staff voted in favour of a strike mandate after 64 per cent of workers said yes.
The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) website said the part-time college support staff sent "a strong message to our employer, who has dragged out negotiations for almost two years: we need a fair deal now.”
Bargaining teams will begin mediation on Nov. 20 with a strike mandate in hand. The part-time support staff contract expired about 20 months ago.
Their demands include paid sick days, wage increases and protections for 24-hour shift cancellations.
They also want to ensure equity and inclusion, like time off on holidays, career advancement pathways and feedback after an unsuccessful interview.
The vote to give the bargaining committee the strike mandate took place between noon Oct. 14 and 3 p.m. Oct. 17. Union members voted anonymously by phone or online means.
“We’re fighting for better for all part-timers – including students and casual staff – and to win a collective agreement that ensures dignity in the workplace for everyone,” the union said on its website.
Part-time support workers account for a majority of jobs at all of Ontario’s 24 public colleges.
Library clerks, IT assistants, receptionists and student representatives are all included in the ranks of the part-time support staff.
Many of these employees work limited hours with none of the benefits that full-time workers have, despite playing key roles in campus functions.
Full-time support staff returned to work Oct. 16 after the union and the College Employer Council (CEC) reached a tentative deal earlier in the week.
OPSEU has claimed on its website that a recent offer to the part-time staff from the CEC was “insulting.”
“We know that the employer’s latest proposal doesn’t go nearly far enough: proposing no wage increases for all of 2024, and possibly 2025, is insulting,” the union said.
If a deal is not struck in the upcoming talks with the CEC, a potential strike could impact essential campus services.
“As we said with the full-time support staff unit, a strike among our valued part-time staff is not necessary to achieve a fair agreement,” said Graham Lloyd, the chief executive officer of the CEC.
“Part-time support staff are important to the colleges and have worked hard, especially during the last five weeks, to support the college operations," he said.
Both sides say they want to avoid a work stoppage and achieve an agreement before the end of November.
More to come.
