Talks aimed at ending a strike by faculty at Ontario's public colleges are set to resume.
A mediator appointed by the Ministry of Labour has called the the College Employers Council and the Ontario Public Service Employees Union back to the bargaining table. The move comes after a statement issued by the council called for a resumption of negotiations, something the union has been repeatedly calling for.
The two sides are scheduled to meet on Thursday, November 2.
In a statement issued by the College Employer Council, the chair of the bargaining team stated they will focus their efforts on reaching a deal.
“This strike has gone on for too long. We need to end the strike and get our students and faculty back in the classroom. We can reach a settlement quickly and have classes start again early next week,” said Sonia Del Missier, chair, Colleges’ Bargaining Team.
No further commentary on bargaining will be provided.
Roughly 12,000 professors, instructors, counsellors, and librarians from Ontario’s 24 public colleges walked off the job in mid-October. Job security has been the key bargaining issue for the union. It is asking for a 50/50 split of full time and contract positions and an increased role in academic decision-making.
