Stay up-to-date on the ongoing academic labour relations through the information below and frequently asked questions
Updates
- December 19, 2024
As a follow up to our message earlier this week, the Ministry of Labour has issued the ‘No Board Report’ as requested by OPSEU, the union representing full-time professors, instructors, librarians, and counsellors. This means that as of January 4, 2025, the Union will be in a position to engage in labour action, such as a strike, if they choose. It is important to note that this does not mean that labour action will begin on January 4 and all classes and activities are continuing as scheduled. There is the option for mediation or alternative forms of negotiations to continue. Should the union choose to engage in labour action, they must provide the Colleges with five days’ notice and that will be communicated directly to you.
We understand and appreciate the concern this may cause, and we remain hopeful that an agreement will be reached.- December 16, 2024
The labour relations process is continuing, and currently, the union and the colleges are scheduled for non-binding mediation January 6-7, 2025. OPSEU CAAT-A, the union representing full-time faculty, counsellors and librarians at all Ontario colleges including ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½, has requested a No Board Report from the Ministry of Labour. This is one of the conditions required for a work stoppage to occur. While OPSEU has requested a no board report, it has not yet been issued. We expect to hear more on this in the coming week. If/once the report is issued and 16 days have passed, and the union has provided the Colleges with 5 days’ notice, the CAAT-A bargaining team will be in a legal position to initiate a work stoppage. However, we remain hopeful that an agreement will be reached, and all classes and activities are continuing as scheduled.
We appreciate and understand that this causes concern. The College is currently developing contingency plans in the event of a work stoppage.
- December 9, 2024
The CEC and CAAT-A bargaining team representing full-time and partial-load professors, instructors, librarians, and counsellors entered non-binding mediation between Friday, December 6, and Sunday, December 8. Mediation will continue Monday January 6 and Tuesday January 7, 2025. As previously stated, there will be no strike or labour action in the fall semester.
- November 7, 2024
As we committed to you, we will be providing labour relations updates as they are available. We can confirm that negotiations between the College Employer Council (who represents the 24 Ontario Public Colleges) and Ontario Public Service Employees Union OPSEU ( who represents full-time faculty) are continuing, and the two parties have mutually agreed to enter non-binding mediation in early December. Based on strike requirements and timelines, we can share that a strike will not occur in the fall semester. All classes are continuing as scheduled.
We understand that this potential strike situation is concerning for our students and our employees. As we move through this process, we will continue to provide updates to keep you informed. ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ remains hopeful that both sides will reach an agreement to avoid any work stoppage.
Please take the time to review the frequently asked questions below for additional information and details.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Will there be a strike in the winter semester?
We hope there will be no strike. Only the union can control whether it will call for a strike. The CEC (bargaining agent for the Colleges) remains committed to finding a solution to negotiations that will not impact students. We want to avoid any interruption to student learning.
- What is required for a strike?
Before a strike can occur, five requirements must be met. Not all requirements have been met at this time.
- A strike requires the union bargaining team having a strike mandate. Which they received on October 18, 2024.
- The parties need to enter/attend conciliation. The parties entered conciliation October 9, 2024. Completed November 5, 2024.
- Conciliation must fail with either party requesting a no-board report. The union bargaining team requested
a no-board report on December 12 - Once a no-board report is issued, 16 calendar days must pass. This deadline will occur on January 4, 2025.
- The union must provide the Colleges with 5 days’ notice. This has not happened yet. If it does, ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ will provide you with notice.
- What is a No Board Report?
A no board report recognizes that the parties are at an impasse and that a conciliator could not help.
A No Board Report is one of the conditions for a work stoppage to occur. OPSEU has requested a No Board Report from the Ministry of Labour. If/once the report is issued and 16 days have passed, and the union has provided the Colleges with 5 days’ notice, the CAAT-A bargaining team will be in a legal position to initiate a work stoppage.This means that the Union could give notice of labour action and engage in a strike. The CEC can also choose to change terms of the existing collective agreement or lock-out employees (Colleges have never locked employees out).
- What is a strike? Is this common in Canada?
At the Colleges, strikes are peaceful forms of protest.
- Picket lines are formed by striking employees and people can be delayed from entering campus.
- A strike may take different forms. In general, it is a refusal to work in the normal way that is designed to slow down, disrupt, or stop college operations. A strike is organized by a Union as a form of protest typically in an attempt to force the employer to agree to their demands.
The College will work with the union to ensure the safety of students and staff. If there is a strike, we will provide students with information about how to peacefully cross the picket line.
- Does labour action mean a strike?
Labour action does mean a strike. Strike action can take various forms, which include work-to-rule, partial walk-out, rotating strike, all the way up to a full walk out.
Only the Union can determine what forms of strike action will occur and when.- What are the different forms of strike?
Work-to-rule, partial walk-out, rotating strike, and full walk-out are all forms of strike.
• In work-to-rule, employees perform only the duties that have been assigned, strictly adhering to policy and contract obligations.• In a partial walk-out, employees refuse to perform some of their assigned duties.
• In a rotating strike, employees walk out entirely for short periods of time at different institutions.
• In a full walk-out strike, employees withdraw all their services and choose to walk the picket line.- When will I find out if there may be a strike?
If the Union decides to take its members on a strike, they must first provide the Colleges with 5 days’ notice. Once the Colleges receive notice, we would then communicate to students, employees, and the greater College community.
- What are the other/ alternative types of negotiation?
An example is binding interest arbitration where an agreed upon neutral third-party arbitrator makes decisions if the parties can’t come up with a compromise. Interest arbitration has been used in the past two academic rounds of negotiations.
- Will the Colleges force faculty to go on a full walk-out strike?
The Colleges cannot force faculty to go on strike.
• Only the Union team can determine what form of strike action it engages in (work-to-rule, partial walk-out, rotating strikes, walk-out).
• The College will not lock the faculty out (which means the employer will not force a work stoppage.)- Is this only happening at ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½?
The union represents full-time faculty members at all of the 24 Ontario community colleges.