Ontario College Faculty Vote In Favour Of Job Action

Ontario college faculty members have authorized their union to take job action. About 15 thousand full and part time faculty have been without a contract since the end of September. Fifty-nine per cent of those who cast ballots between Dec. 9 and 11 were in favour of a strike mandate. They’re members of OPSEU, and union president Smokey Thomas says it’s clear the members are looking for an agreement reached at the bargaining table. The union says wages are not in dispute, since the Ford government has capped increases at one percent. But OPSEU is looking for more stability for contract faculty, as well as more support for online learning. It’s also demanding colleges stop outsourcing counselling services.