Ontario community college support staff reject contract offer, authorize a strike

More than 6,500 support staff at 24 Ontario community colleges authorized a possible strike, turning down the college’s contract offer in a province-wide vote July 10 and 16.

The full-time support staff, members of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) voted 79 per cent to reject the Colleges Compensation and Appointments Council’s latest offer.

On a separate ballot, support staff also voted 69 per cent in favour of giving their bargaining team the ability to call a strike: 66 per cent of eligible voters cast a vote.

“Our members simply want the same wage increase that other employees of the colleges received,” said OPSEU lead negotiator Rod Bemister.

The union is hopeful that the strike vote will bring an improved offer from the colleges.

The current province-wide contract expires on Aug. 31.