JP Hornick, president of OPSEU/SEFPO, joined supporters outside Toronto’s Centennial College on July 9. The Canadian Press
About 10,000 support staff at Ontario’s 24 public colleges could strike tonight as contract talks push toward a midnight deadline. Staff, represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), have bargained with the College Employer Council for months without success. The union moved closer to strike action in August after talks stalled.
Union demands job security
Christine Kelsey, chair of the College Support Full-Time Bargaining Team, said the issue centres on job security. “College full-time support staff have been bargaining with our employer for months — today, we are bargaining up to a midnight strike deadline in a round that is, at its core, about job security,” she wrote in a statement.
She added the union wants to protect jobs long-term. “We are trying to stabilize the system — not just for this term, but for generations to come. We have yet to see any language from the employer on the table which actually protects jobs. If that doesn’t change by midnight, 10,000 full-time support staff are ready to strike for the future of student support.”
Colleges under pressure
Ontario’s colleges face financial strain due to fewer international students. Enrolment has dropped sharply, cutting revenues by as much as half. This has forced widespread job losses and even campus closures. The union argues strong protections are necessary to safeguard staff and students in this uncertain environment.
Employer rejects demands
The College Employer Council has said the union’s requests go beyond collective bargaining. Graham Lloyd, CEO of the council, said in a September 5 statement, “OPSEU is ignoring the reality that college enrolment and revenues are down as much as 50 per cent. No organization managing a drop like this can commit to these out-of-touch demands. They go far beyond the scope of collective bargaining and threaten the sustainability of Ontario’s college system.”
The council said today it had no new update but confirmed negotiations were ongoing. It has called the union’s demands unrealistic, especially proposals to prevent campus closures or staff reductions.
Uncertain outcome tonight
Both sides remain at the table, with time running out. If no deal comes by midnight, Ontario colleges could face a major disruption. Thousands of students depend on support staff for daily services, and a strike could impact everything from academic help to campus operations.
The hours ahead will determine whether staff walk off the job or reach an agreement that secures their future while keeping colleges stable.
