Hundreds of workers on strike, accompanied by their supporters, gathered outside Mohawk College in Hamilton and several other provincial colleges on Thursday morning to exert pressure on their employers following the breakdown of negotiations earlier in the week.
On Fennell Avenue W. at Mohawk’s campus, employees from various southwestern Ontario educational institutions such as Niagara College, Sheridan College, and Conestoga College, united with the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) Local 241 members. Together, they marched and displayed signs advocating for job security.
Susan Lau, the president of Local 241, expressed gratitude for the enthusiastic support received during the rally, with honks of solidarity from passing drivers. She noted the positive morale among the workers, who received encouragement from fellow union members, the public, and college students.
Since September 11, approximately 10,000 full-time college support staff from Ontario’s 24 public colleges have been on strike statewide, primarily focusing on safeguarding job positions. This fight for job security resonates with many due to significant job losses experienced in colleges over the past year, with 10,000 faculty and support staff laid off and over 650 programs cut across Ontario, according to OPSEU.
The support staff roles encompass more than 150 positions, including recruiters, payroll personnel, lab technicians, co-op coordinators, financial aid officers, and food service workers. The union emphasizes the importance of protecting these jobs from being outsourced and preventing managers from taking over bargaining unit tasks to ensure the stability of the workforce.
Christine Kelsey, the chair of the College Support Full-time Bargaining Team and a union local president, emphasized the crucial non-teaching and non-management tasks performed by support staff in colleges, asserting that these roles are vital for the institutions’ functioning.
Following three days of mediation starting last Friday, OPSEU and the College Employer Council (CEC) released statements blaming each other for obstructing a potential agreement. The CEC argues that OPSEU’s demands exceed necessary protections against outsourcing tasks, potentially hindering college operations.
The coordinated picketing at Mohawk College and other locations aimed to pressure college administrations to address the job security concerns raised by the union. Lau highlighted the impact of the strike action, leading to the suspension of on-campus activities and the transition to online classes for safety reasons.
Lau and Kelsey stressed the urgency of their fight to preserve jobs, citing recent campus closures at Georgian College as evidence of the ongoing challenges faced by colleges. They underscored the significance of public support in securing the future of college education and the vital role played by support staff in maintaining operational efficiency.