Faculty at Ontario’s 24 public colleges are fighting to improve the college system and to protect the quality of a college education.
We know our students are the future, and that’s why college faculty are fighting for a better system for all. And you can help!
Better is possible. In just the last five years, Ontario’s college system has seen a surplus of $1.6 billion. That means our colleges have plenty of money for classrooms, libraries and in-house counsellors who support students – but, that’s not where the money is going. Instead, there are more managers than ever – and with higher salaries than ever – while conditions in our colleges are worsening.
College faculty are fighting for more time for students by demanding:
- More time to prepare online courses and to provide feedback to students. Currently, faculty only have a maximum of five minutes per week, per student for marking and no additional time to create quality online courses – that’s ridiculous!
- That colleges stop giving the work of professors, librarians, and counsellors to private corporations. It’s shameful that less than half of public colleges have full-time faculty librarians on site, and that two colleges have outsourced all their counselling services for students entirely.
- That unionized contract faculty have better job stability and access to benefits. Approximately 75% of faculty work on 14-week, precarious contracts with no guarantee of benefits between semesters, and little guarantee that they will be hired back to teach their courses. Faculty are pushing back against the growing gig economy to build a better future with decent jobs for students, because our students deserve better!
College faculty want simple and reasonable changes. We care deeply about our students and want a better future for them. We’re here to provide them the highest-quality education and training and prepare them for the jobs Ontario needs right now – in health care, social services, the skilled trades, and so much more.
You can help us to achieve better, by sending a letter to your college president to demand more #Time4Students: https://www.collegefaculty.org/write-your-college-president/
Other Bargaining Updates
Information for OPSEU/SEFPO members in the CAAT-Academic Division about the February 15-17 forced-offer vote
A forced-offer vote will be held in February for college faculty members represented by OPSEU/SEFPO starting February 15. The vote was scheduled after the College Employer Council (CEC) asked the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) last week to schedule the online...
Five reasons to REJECT the CEC’s forced offer
Click here for a printable PDF version The College Employer Council’s forced offer fails. It’s a terrible contract that fails faculty, fails students and threatens to harm the entire college system. All faculty should vote to reject the colleges’ offer, because: (x)...
Dates confirmed for the College Employer Council’s forced-offer vote
The College Employer Council (CEC) filed an application with the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) yesterday for a forced-offer vote. Their latest offer includes only a slight change from the offer they tabled on November 23, 2021. It also follows its decision to...
OPSEU/SEFPO files ULP over CEC interference in bargaining
Toronto – On January 14, 2022, OPSEU/SEFPO filed an unfair labour practice (ULP) complaint with the Ontario Labour Relations Board, accusing the College Employer Council (CEC) and a number of colleges of interfering in the rights of members to support their union’s...
OPSEU/SEFPO calls on college faculty to reject Employer’s forced offer deal
TORONTO – OPSEU/SEFPO President Warren (Smokey) Thomas says a better deal can be achieved and is advising college faculty to reject the employer’s latest offer, after the College Employer Council (CEC) filed for a forced offer vote Monday. "It's still possible to...
OPSEU/SEFPO denounces college failures raised by AG
TORONTO – OPSEU/SEFPO hopes the leaders at Ontario’s public colleges don’t ignore recent concerns expressed by the Auditor General about an over reliance on international student tuition for the colleges’ financial viability. OPSEU/SEFPO President Warren (Smokey)...
Faced with Omicron threat, Ontario colleges treated ‘differently’: Thomas
Toronto – OPSEU/SEFPO President Warren (Smokey) Thomas is calling on the Ontario government to immediately implement social distancing regulations, capacity limits and other health measures to protect faculty, support staff and students at Ontario’s 24 public...
Letter re concerns about employer communications to college faculty
January 7, 2022 Graham LloydChief Executive OfficerCollege Employer Council Dear Graham, Faculty members represented by OPSEU/SEFPO working at Ontario’s 24 public colleges have now begun Phase 2 of the work-to-rule campaign, as part of a legal strike action, which...
Work to Rule: Phase 2
Starts 12:01am, January 3, 2022 (if no settlement or no agreement on extension of existing terms and conditions before then) Focus Imposition of terms and conditions prevents the possibility of good labour relations. It is a choice by the colleges and the CEC to...
Work-to-rule FAQ
This document will be revised and updated as appropriateCurrent version: December 16, 2021Work-to-rule is any job action in which employees do their jobs exactly as outlined by the rules of their contract or job description. This may cause a slowdown or increase...
Work to Rule: Phase 1 for all Faculty
Starts 12:01am, December 18, 2021 (if no settlement or no agreement on extension of existing terms and conditions before then) Focus The imposition of terms and conditions prevents the possibility of good labour relations, eliminates faculty consent, and is itself a...
OPSEU/SEFPO stands in support of college faculty members
Dear College Faculty: As you know, the CEC has imposed employment conditions on college faculty following last week’s strike vote. Instead of returning to the bargaining table to hammer out the final details of a contract, they’ve taken a different approach:...