ON faculty union enters strike position over weekend, gives labour action notice

The Ontario Public Service Employees Union—representing faculty from Ontario’s public college system—has entered a legal strike position and published a five-day labour action notice. Global News reports that the action notice would put faculty at ON colleges in a position to take part in strike action from January 9th onwards. OPSEU and the College Employer Council have been in negotiations since July 2024, according to CBC, with the faculty union voting in favour of a strike mandate in October. Leading up to the weekend, college faculty union local presidents such as OPSEU Local 655 (Cambrian College) President President Neil Shyminsky and OPSEU Local 110 (Fanshawe College) President Mark Feltham told CBC that they were hopeful that a strike could be avoided. Mediation between CEC and OPSEU is scheduled to continue this week.