As the sounds of whistle-blowing and old-school rock music blared on Humber College Boulevard, the energetic disposition of OPSEU’s All Out rally acted as nothing more than a mask that covered support staff woes.
Amanda Van Mierlo, a support staff member for Humber Libraries, is one of the many picketers who grow restless the longer the strike looms over the community. As an employee for the college for 23 years, they were on the verge of tears as they reminisced about their students.
“I miss my students, I feel bad for my students. We’ve been talking to students out here [and] hearing their stories about how they’re being impacted. It’s heartbreaking,” they said.
With the strike bleeding into its fourth week and no progress being made between OPSEU and CEC at the bargaining table, union members from four publicly-funded colleges in Toronto came together at Humber Polytechnic’s North campus. It was to deliver their frustrations towards the College Employer Council, the bargaining agent for the province's 24 colleges, and stall contract talks.
News of the All Out rally was first revealed to the public on Oct. 1 through social media posts. Newsletters were sent out to OPSEU members the day before. Sixteen buses were coordinated to pick up members from the remaining 23 publicly-funded colleges within the GTA around 6:30 a.m., with crowds arriving at the scene around 7 a.m.
Several hundred strikers filled the entrances as picketers prevented people from entering or leaving the college. The only vehicles excepted were TTC Wheel-Trans vehicles, which dropped off passengers at the Humber College Bus Terminal.
Police were called to the scene shortly after. Humberline and Windwood Drives were closed to help prevent the overflow of traffic, as police kept watch all throughout Humber College Boulevard and Highway 27.
Humber Polytechnic sent messages to the college population through Humber Guardian and email. At first, Humber urged those attending campus to park at Queen’s Plate Drive and Highway 27 and walk to campus.
An hour later, another update was sent out advising faculty to hold classes online, alongside limited information about the strike.
“Access to NORTH Campus is SEVERELY limited today and not possible in some scenarios. Exiting vehicles may also be detained,” the update read.
The Ontario Labour Relations Act does not have any laws stating it is illegal to block people from entering the premises, but there is a general two-minute time limit allowed to block traffic at a picket line.
Toronto Police did move in at times, allowing a few vehicles through the picket lines. But police changed tactics, saying it was too risky to follow the two-minute rule, and at the height of the rally, Humber College Boulevard was jammed with vehicles in both directions.
The front of the college remained somewhat peaceful, with picketers staying alive by blasting music along the picket line. I Fought the Law and Know Your Rights by Clash were some of the songs played aloud while the police watched.
Tensions mainly arose near the Highway 27 entrance.
Cars were backed up at the scene since 6 a.m., with some people even waiting to get through for several hours. One student who wished to remain anonymous said they were on their way to a mid-term exam before being stuck in traffic.
“I tried to get here as early as possible, but I’m still stuck at the picket lines. But I understand you guys are fighting for a good cause, so I’m just going to have to eat the bullets that come with it,” they said.
Some people, however, weren’t as amicable. Police talked to picketers, encouraging them to let people in. The first car let in by picketers was three hours after the rally began, with the driver telling the picket line they were simply trying to pick up their child for a doctor’s appointment.
This uproar was prompted by the growing frustrations among the picket line. Several picketers, who wish to remain anonymous for their well-being, talked to Humber Et Cetera about their experience with the strike.
Having also participated in the support staff strike that took place in 2011, one striker said they felt more supported by the administration then.
“We had HR come out with their HR shirts; they provided us with muffins and coffee. They never took sides, but they just showed their support,” they said.
Fredy Mejia, OPSEU’s Local 563 president, echoed many of these sentiments. He said the previous president, Chris Whitaker, and the previous VP of People and Cultures, Deb McCarthy, came out and walked with picketers. This year, the difference is starkly obvious.
“The community has been great. Our part-timers have been great. Our students have been great. The major change is that the administration is no longer recognizing the work that we do,” he said.
An anonymous picketer said the 2011 strike also included more amenities available along the picket line. They were provided free parking with shuttle buses, portapotties, and a trailer.
During the second week of the strike, they said the college wouldn't allow portapotties and that strikers would be charged for trespassing if they entered the premises. The picketer said it was because OPSEU refused to sign concessions.
They said the concessions required picketers to agree not to talk to the public or to the students. Mejia confirmed this with Et Cetera.
“They did offer a space, but I had to sign an agreement which, basically, was taking away our rights to strike. I just couldn’t sign the document,” he said.
“We must stop the traffic, not to cause chaos or ruin somebody else’s day, but to send a message. [...] By signing, a document that would have meant giving all of that away,” he said.
Portapotties along Windwood Trail, as well as food, tents, tables and chairs were provided by the union during the rally. As for parking, many picketers said they parked around the community. Some said they parked at Woodbine Mall and walked the rest, while others parked by Etobicoke General Hospital and paid $18.50 for parking.
Mejia said he believes the shift in attitudes from the administration is due to the cultural differences back then, compared to now. He said they had full-time support staff that knew what the unions were about because they had been here for many years.
“That brought our strongest supporters onto the picket line. It was not about the hours, it was about the solidarity that we were bringing to the picket lines,” he said.
Besides the lack of administrative support, some picketers also said some pieces of news inevitably floated around. Mejia said that the lack of support creates rumours, which tie into the level of anxiety that has been developing among strikers.
“It’s affecting us physically, it’s affecting us mentally, it’s affecting us financially. So when we look at all the factors, of course, people start talking,” he said.
Mejia said he urges members to be mindful of what they do on the picket line, because at one point, they will have to return to work.
“We look at their relationships, how we can rebuild or strengthen our relationships with everyone inside because we love Humber,” he said.
Although Graham Lloyd, the CEO of CEC, agreed to an interview, it was put on hold due to the media blackout that began Sept. 26. Instead, the latest news release from CEC’s management bargaining team states their proposals reflect a genuine effort to reach a fair renewal agreement.
“We made real progress until OPSEU communicated that there could be no agreement unless CEC accepted the union’s restrictions [...] We have clearly communicated to them since bargaining began that we can never accept these demands,” they stated.[]
President Ann Marie Vaughan told Et Cetera on Sept. 26 in an email statement that support staff are a vital part of Humber Polytechnic and the post-secondary sector in Ontario.
“They are our colleagues, and they are invaluable resources to our students, colleagues, partners and the Humber community. We look forward to welcoming them back to campus once a resolution has been reached,” she said.
