When is the strike vote?
Our strike vote will be held from Tuesday, October 14th at 12pm through until Friday, October 17th at 3pm.The vote will be conducted by the Ontario Labour Board and your unique voting credentials will be sent to your work or personal email, and will be conducted online or on the phone. This is a secret ballot vote and no one will know how you voted – including the employer.You do not need to register to vote.
Who is eligible to vote?
College support employees working Part-Time (including students, casuals and on contracts,
and those on approved leaves of absence, long term disability, parental leaves,etc.), can vote on October 14th through to October 17th at 3pm.If you are on recall and/or have an active grievance on file, you are eligible to vote.
If you believe you should be entitled to vote and do not receive an email, please reach out to the OLRB Help Desk for voting credentials:
OLRB Help Desk Telephone:- 416-326-7432 (English)
- 416-326-0313 (French)
Help Desk Hours:
- October 14 – 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
- October 15 – 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
- October 16 – 11:00am to 1:00 pm
- October 17 – 9:30 am to 11:00 am
How did we get to this point?
College part-time support staff have been working under an expired collective agreement for 20 months, as the employer is refusing to negotiate.On Monday, September 1st, your bargaining team informed the employer of our intention to seek a strike mandate vote and put pressure on the colleges to come to the table, and bargain in good faith.For the
latest update on bargaining.Read the union’s positionsWhat is a strike mandate vote?
A strike mandate vote is a secret-ballot vote. The process gives your bargaining team, who are a group of your elected co-workers who will negotiate, the option to call a strike, if needed. More than 50 per cent of those voting must vote in favour of a strike for the members to be in a legal strike position, and go on strike if necessary. In our case, the vote is administered by the Ministry of Labour Relations.The decision to give the Bargaining team a strike mandate comes from the membership – which includes all part-time college support workers. A strong strike mandate vote – ie. A strong majority voting “YES” – with the highest participation possible gives your bargaining team more power at the bargaining table, to show the employer that workers are prepared to go on strike, if needed.
Why do we need a strong strike mandate?
A high-participation strike mandate is a demonstration of our collective power. We have more power at the table when the employer knows that they aren’t just negotiating with a bargaining team, but that the entire membership of 10,000 members is behind their team.In addition, we need a strike mandate before engaging in any job action – including a strike.
If we have a strike mandate, does this automatically mean we will go on strike?
No. If the majority of those who vote, vote “yes” for a strike mandate, your bargaining team can call for a strike, if needed.A strike is a last resort for leverage to achieve our demands and improve our collective working conditions.
When is the earliest the part-time college workers could be on strike?
The answer is that we don’t know yet. There are a number of steps we would need to go through before calling a strike, and it will depend on the outcome of a meeting with the labour board that is scheduled for October 15th, 2025.
There will be more information that will be shared with everyone after next week.Earlier this year, your bargaining team signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the employer, where both parties agreed to meet with a mediator to help us find an agreement, and in return, neither of us would escalate (the union said it would not initiate a strike).However, we don’t believe the employer is being reasonable. They have refused 23 of 25 proposed mediation dates, which would continue to delay bargaining unnecessarily. We will be discussing this with the labour board on October 15th, 2025.
How much is strike pay and how does it work?
If we decide to engage in strike action, the employer will stop paying workers who are engaging in the strike action.OPSEU’s strike pay is $450/week for the first 3 weeks then $550/week in the 4th week and beyond (dependents paid at $125/week each).To receive the maximum strike pay, individuals must complete 20 hours of picket duties.Strike pay is administered via Direct Deposit, which is why it’s important to update your information on the
OPSEU members portal. Individuals who do not have direct deposit set up, they will be paid via cheque.
Who counts as a dependent for strike pay?
A dependent family member is defined as:
- A child under 18 (or under 26 if attending school full time) or a dependent child as defined by the collective agreement or benefit plan
- A non-income earning spouse (excluding a spouse on strike)
- A disabled family member; or
- A elderly family member who normally receives financial support from a striking member,
- If both spouses are on strike, both may claim the dependents.
Dependent pay is not based on hours of picket duties.
Do I have to do 20 hours of picketing to be eligible for strike pay?
Even if you are unable to picket 20 hours a week, you can still get strike pay.To receive maximum strike pay, which is $450/week, you will need to complete 20 hrs of picket duties per week. This is true for all members regardless of how many hours you are normally scheduled for. If we were to strike, strong picket lines are vital to the success of the strike. More people out on strike means a shorter strike.However, if you are unable to complete a full 20 hours due to scheduling conflicts, like being a student or working another job,
you can still get strike pay. It is understandable that many individuals who work part-time may need accommodations.That could look like receiving strike pay based on the amount of hours you
are able to complete, but will not be the full amount.
What if I can’t physically picket?
Individuals who cannot physically complete picket duties will be accommodated to do other things to help the strike, which will count towards their hours.You will still be eligible for strike pay.
What if I’m a student? Can I still go to classes?
If you are a student worker- you are still eligible to vote in the strike vote, and go on strike if needed.In the event of a strike, you are still able to attend class as usual. The strike would only impact your job at the college.
What if I have another role at the college?
In the event of a strike, it is only your part-time support staff job that would be affected. You’d still be expected to continue your other job.
Where do I find my union number?
Please email
[email protected]What if I am an international student, or international worker member. Is it legal for me to participate in a strike?
Yes. Striking is completely legal for non-citizens working in Canada, it is a right that is protected under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.If you’re an international student, your study permit is tied to your institution, not your employment. You are allowed to receive strike pay and perform strike duties under your study permit to attend college in Canada.You cannot be punished for participating in a strike, performing strike duties and/or showing support for the Union during contract negotiations.
Can my employer punish me for participating in a legal strike?
No. As stressed, it is illegal for your employer to punish you for participating in a strike. In the highly unlikely event your employer pursues this illegal action, OPSEU/SEFPO will fully support you through the legal process.
How do I know if I’m a union member?
If you are a unionized member, you will be paying OPSEU/SEFPO membership dues. Please check your paycheque to see if that is the case.
Additional Questions?
If you still have questions, join a Strike Vote Info Drop In session from 11am-3pm on from Tuesday, October 14th to Friday, October 17th. There will be a session every day with members of the bargaining team to answer your questions, so you have the information you need to vote.Zoom link here. 