Hundreds of Fanshawe support staff rally as mediated talks resume in labour dispute

Talks resume today between OPSEU and College Employer Council as striking workers hold large rally in London, reports CTV’s Bryan Bicknell.

Striking Fanshawe College employees held a rally Friday, as talks resumed between their union and the College Employer’s Council.

About 500 Fanshawe support staff and their supporters lined Cheapside Street outside the college entrance.

OPSEU Local 109 2nd Vice President Tam Visser says their biggest issue is job security.

“In the past year we’ve lost thousands of support staff jobs across all colleges across Ontario; Fanshawe has not been let out of that. We’ve definitely been affected by that as well. So, it’s just about job security, being those fair wages, those equitable living things that we’re looking for. But just that job security. We just want to know that we’re appreciated, and we’re here to stay,” she exclaimed.

OPSEU Local 109 represents close to 800 Fanshawe College employees across all Fanshawe campuses. They’re among 10,000 college support staff across the province who walked off the job Sept. 11.

CTV News also reached out to the College Employer’s Council for comment on negotiations. A spokesperson responded, saying because the CEC is involved in mediated talks it is bound by a media blackout and unable to accommodate.

The NDP’s shadow minister for colleges and universities had no such restrictions. London West MPP Peggy Sattler says cuts at community colleges, prompted by the loss of international students, all go back to government underfunding.

“Colleges across this province have had to use international student tuition to subsidize the programs that our communities need. This should be a government responsibility. We should have public investment in our public colleges because our communities rely on graduates,” Sattler said.

College support staff include the likes of student services, disability services, libraries, and much more.

Some students say the atmosphere inside Fanshawe has changed, with many services backed up.

“A lot of the support staff is down. Like IT services have waits like in the five days, when it was normally pretty instant. That’s like the biggest thing I’ve noticed so far,” said student Brady Armstrong.

“I definitely agree with Brady,” added student Darius Chea. “Like, everything’s just delayed, and not really anybody’s in like their office and stuff like that. So everything’s taking a long time,” he said.