Strike averted after CEC, OPSEU sign agreement, enter binding arbitration

A potential strike affecting Ontario college faculty has been averted after the College Employer Council (CEC) and Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) signed a Memorandum of Agreement and agreed to enter into binding arbitration to settle outstanding items. OPSEU explained that Arbitrator William Kaplan will further mediate and then rule on a new contract for college faculty. Classes will continue to run this week with no strike action occurring. “It was important to us to provide stability to students at the start of their semester,” said CEC Management Bargaining Team Chair Dr Laurie Rancourt. “We are encouraged that OPSEU has prioritized students by agreeing to binding arbitration.”