Frequently Asked Questions
Academic Bargaining
The OPSEU bargaining team represents all full-time and partial-load faculty at all Ontario colleges. Before OPSEU can legally strike, they must ensure their members support this direction. To determine that, OPSEU is required to hold a vote asking its membership to provide its bargaining team with a strike mandate.
If faculty union members vote in favour of a strike mandate, it does not mean there will be a definite strike. However, it does give the OPSEU bargaining team the power to call a strike. A strike may take different forms. In general, it is a refusal to work that is designed to slow down, disrupt, or stop operations. In this scenario, bargaining may continue, and if both parties are willing, a settlement can be negotiated.
If faculty union members vote against a strike mandate, the OPSEU bargaining team will not have the support of their members to call a strike, and bargaining may continue. If both parties are willing, a settlement can be negotiated. However, the union may decide to hold another strike mandate vote in the future.
On October 9, the College Employer Council (CEC) and OPSEU entered conciliation. Conciliation is a process by which a conciliation officer is appointed by the Ontario Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development to meet with the union and the employer to attempt to conclude a collective agreement.
On November 6, 2024, the CEC and OPSEU mutually agreed to enter non-binding mediation. Both parties will submit proposals to the agreed upon neutral mediator, who will work with the parties to find common ground and come to an
agreement. If the parties do not come to an agreement, the mediator cannot force either party to change their position. Mediation will take place December 6-8, 2024.