Georgian College faculty 'energized' after union issues strike notice

Faculty at Georgian College are energized as their union has put a possible strike on the table with students set to head back to class next week.

On Friday, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), which represents college faculty across Ontario, gave the required five-day notice for a strike. In a press release online, OPSEU says it comes after half a year of bargaining.

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"We've been without a contract for a long time," said Dr. Anita Arvast, the president of OPSEU Local 350, which represents faculty at Georgian College. "But things don't seem to be progressing in a positive direction. So that's what brings us to this point now."

Acknowledging that nobody wants a strike, Arvast says her members are willing to do what it takes to achieve what they consider a fair deal between themselves and the College Employer Council (CEC).

"We are we are very disappointed with the CEC's inability to resolve the issues," Arvast said. "So we're prepared to do what we need to do, and if that means a strike, then unfortunately that is where we will end up."

According to Arvast, the support to issue a strike mandate is at an all-time high locally. About 76 per cent of the members Arvast represents voted in favor of strike action, one of the largest mandates they've ever had.

OPSEU has said that achieving greater job security is amongst its top priorities. Arvast says there have also been numerous disagreements over concessions, previous wins the union has achieved that are at risk of being taken away.

One key concession concerning Arvast is one surrounding faculty workload.

"Our workload has changed considerably over a number of years, but we have a workload formula that's been in place for almost 40 years," Arvast said. "So that doesn't take into account the changing needs of our students."

She says most of their concerns are not financially related, arguing they want better supports in order to offer higher quality education.

"We're in this business because we care deeply about the future of education, the future of our workforce," Arvast said. "If we can't give all we want to give to the students, that's a problem for the CEC."

CTV News has reached out to Georgian College for comment but has not heard back.