Support staff at Algonquin College, other Ontario colleges begin strike action

Ten thousand support staff at colleges across Ontario walked off the job Thursday, seeking better wages, benefits, and job security. CTV’s Stefan Keyes reports.

Classes will continue as scheduled on Thursday at Algonquin College as support staff at all Ontario colleges begin strike action.

The Ontario Public Service Employees Union says 10,000 full-time college support staff began strike action at 12:01 a.m. after the union failed to reach an agreement with the College Employer Council. The union is seeking better wages, benefits and job security.

Algonquin College president Claude Brulé says classes and academic delivery will continue “as scheduled, unless you are notified otherwise.”

In a letter to the Algonquin College community early Thursday morning, Brulé warned some services may be affected by the support staff strike, “including administrative support, front-line services, and facilities operations.”

Students, staff and faculty heading to Algonquin College are being warned to expect delays and disruptions due to picket lines.

“We deeply value the contributions of our support staff and respect their right to participate in this legal process,” Brulé said. “Our priority is to continue supporting our students and employees while maintaining a respectful, safe, and inclusive campus environment.”

The College Employer Council says its contract proposal included wage increases of two per cent in each year of the contract, increased on call and shift premiums, severance enhancements increased by 50 per cent and a “guaranteed employee rights to disconnect from work.”

OPSEU says picket lines will be set up at the Algonquin College campuses in Ottawa and Pembroke.

The union says the bargaining team for the colleges walked away from the table before the deadline.

“We’ve lost 10,000 jobs across the system this year alone, and more than 650 programs in every community across the province,” Christine Kelsey, chair of the College Support Full-Time Bargaining Team, said in a statement.

“With our colleges plunged into chaos, job security is key to stabilizing the system – because the future of our work is the future of student support.”

Full-time college support staff include library technologists, disability services, student success coordinators, facilities and trades staff, employees in the registrar and financial aid offices, employment services, food services and student workers.