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  • A strike may take different forms. In general, it is a refusal to work in the normal way that is designed to slow down, disrupt, or stop operations. A strike is organized by a Union as a form of protest typically in an attempt to force the employer to agree to their demands.
  • Unfortunately, in the Colleges, when a faculty member chooses to apply pressure by slowing down, disrupting or stopping work, these actions lead to varying degrees of negative impact on students.
  • In a full walk-out strike, employees withdraw all their services and choose to walk the picket line.
  • Teachers picketing do not teach during a full walk-out strike.
  • Colleges will inform students about the status of classes.
  • Check your College website for more information.
  • They can last for a day or for an extended period of time.
  • Currently, the Union has been engaged in strike action since December 18, 2021.
  • In 2017, the Union engaged in a full walk-out strike that lasted for more than 5 weeks. Students were still able to complete their semester.
  • There is the potential the Winter 2022 semester could be interrupted and/or extended.
  • If the semester is impacted, Colleges will do everything possible to ensure that all students have the opportunity to complete the semester.
  • The Colleges are not escalating. The Union has chosen to escalate its strike action.
  • The Union has asked the CEC to consider voluntary binding interest arbitration on outstanding issues. With respect to the outstanding issues, the Colleges have stated since August 2021, that they can never accept what the Union is demanding. The Colleges are not seeking anything from the Union and in the circumstances cannot agree to enter voluntarily into binding interest arbitration on these outstanding issues.
  • The CEC is not prepared to agree to have an arbitrator "split the difference" on key issues that Colleges have already stated are unacceptable to begin with. In essence, there is nothing to split.
  • Colleges have not refused arbitration but provided an alternative arbitration proposal for the same purpose of ending the impasse. The Colleges have asked the Union to reconsider an alternative proposal for an arbitrated solution to ensure there will be no harm or interruption for students.
  • The government does not get involved with College bargaining unless absolutely necessary.
  • In 2017, the government legislated faculty back to work after 5 weeks of engaging in a full walk-out strike. The Union is currently in the process of challenging this decision.
  • The CEC has dropped all of its proposals for purposes of settlement and has agreed to many Union demands already.
  • The Colleges has asked for nothing in the new Collective agreement and will not agree to:
    • Inclusion of interest arbitration as the default decision-making process for key working groups/ initiatives within the collective agreement
    • Workload amendments that contravene legislation (Bill 124)
    • Intellectual property claims for work that employees are already paid to create
    • Restrictions that infringe on other employee groups
  • The CEC website contains information on the bargaining process and an ongoing archive of proposals from both parties.
  • Additionally, all news updates are published across CEC social media channels and the website.
  • Please visit CollegeEmployerCouncil.ca or follow the CEC on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, or YouTube.