Colleges avert strike by agreeing to binding arbitration
Ontario's 24 public colleges are packing their picket-line parkas away this year.
After more than six months of negotiations, the OPSEU bargaining unit representing over 15,000 college faculty across Ontario signed a Memorandum of Agreement Wednesday.
Georgian College's OPSEU union representative Anita Arvast said she received word of the memorandum late Tuesday evening.
"Now it will go to binding arbitration," Arvast said Wednesday morning.
"I'm absolutely exhausted and so relieved."
After spending the week readying trailers for the picket lines, organizing schedules for the 800 members across all of Georgian's campuses, she’s grateful to see a resolution.
The memorandum offers significant benefit gains, especially for part-time members who encompass 75 per cent of the workforce, she said.
While the two sides remain at an impasse over other issues, the two sides will send now all outstanding items to mediation-arbitration.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Can the U.S. really make Canada the 51st state?
Talk of Canada becoming the 51st American state has raised an existential question on this side of the border: Could it be done? Could the maple leaf make way to the stars and stripes? According to several experts, it may be possible, but not painless.
LIVE UPDATES 'Terrifying' L.A. fires at 0% containment, 5 deaths reported
A series of wildfires are searing through the Los Angeles area, forcing many to evacuate their homes. Follow along here for the latest updates.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he is 'OK' after OPP vehicle he was in was 'sideswiped' in Highway 401 collision
Ontario Premier Doug Ford was uninjured after an OPP vehicle he was travelling in was involved in a collision on Highway 401 earlier today.
At least 60 University of Guelph students sick as 'cluster of illness' hits residence
The University of Guelph is dealing with what they are calling a ‘cluster of illness’ among students living in residence.
U.S. hospital workers charged in death of non-verbal patient left in scalding bath for nearly an hour
Two workers at a state-run hospital in West Virginia have been charged in connection with the death of a 61-year-old non-verbal man who investigators said was left in a scalding hot bath for nearly an hour.
Canada among 'top 5 losers' in new passport ranking
A new global ranking may raise doubts about Canada's reputation of being open to other countries.
Donald Trump visits Jimmy Carter's casket in Capitol Rotunda after criticizing him
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump, who has alternated among praising, criticizing and even mocking Jimmy Carter, came Wednesday to the Capitol Rotunda to pay his respects as the 39th president lay in state ahead of his funeral Thursday in the nation's capital.
Ontario has 'strong list' to counter possible Trump tariffs: Ford
Ontario Premier Doug Ford says his government has a “strong list” of possible retaliatory measures if U.S. president-elect Donald Trump moves ahead with imposing tariffs on Canadian goods.
Hollywood stars react to devastating Los Angeles wildfires
Large parts of Los Angeles County are under evacuation orders Wednesday as massive wildfires spread through the megacity's hilltop suburbs. Here is what some of the stars are seeing from their backyards.