Contract talks between Ontario’s colleges and members of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union in mediation.
It came after college faculty voted more than 79% in favour of strike action to back contract demands.
The employees’ previous contract expired in September.
Wages, benefits and workload are among among the key issues.
The College Employee Council insists the union’s proposals will cost colleges one billion dollars to implement.
“The Colleges do not want students and employees to be negatively impacted because of the unwillingness of the (OPSEU) CAAT-A bargaining team to settle negotiations at the table,” stated Graham Lloyd, Chief Executive Officer of the Council that bargains on behalf of the colleges.
“Mediation followed by interest arbitration provides a win-win solution for both parties and, most importantly, the students.”
In an update on talks from the union, it also states that faculty do not want to strike, either.
“We need a fair agreement that makes headway on workload language that has collected dust for 40 years. We need contract improvements that curb precarity and allow members to keep up in an affordability crisis. We want a willing party on the other side of the table, prepared to bargain fairly,” the update states.
The union has not set a strike deadline.
