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Frequently Asked Questions

  • It is the government mandated bargaining agent representing the 24 Ontario public Colleges as employers in centralized collective bargaining with unionized staff.
  • The CEC provides guidance and advises on College labour relations and Human Resources management as well as is the policy holder for group benefits.
  • This includes: Collective bargaining, group employee benefits, CAAT pension plan, executive compensation guidelines, grievances, hiring practices, terminations, and advisory committees’ guidance and support.
  • The College Employer Council (CEC) and Colleges Ontario have distinctly different missions and mandates while working together on behalf of the 24 publicly-funded Ontario colleges.
  • The CEC primarily focuses on promoting and building positive employment and labour relations whereas Colleges Ontario focuses on policy measures and promoting the benefits of the 24 Colleges.
  • Collective bargaining is a key part of labour negotiations. The process of negotiating an agreement that works for the Colleges, its people and unions can be complex and take time. You can learn more about the key elements and process of collective bargaining here.
  • A no board report recognizes that the parties are at an impasse and that a conciliator could not help.
  • Additionally, 16 days after a no board report is issued, the previous collective agreement is no longer binding.
  • A no board report does not prevent the parties from further bargaining.
  • Should the Union get a strike mandate, they will be in a legal strike position 16 days after a no board report is issued.
  • Should the Colleges wish to introduce new terms of employment, they will legally be able to do so 16 days after the no board report is issued.
  • The Union has been granted a strike mandate (a secret ballot strike vote occurs and the majority of ballots cast are in favour of striking. A strike vote can be held by the Union at any point after notice to bargain is given. That strike mandate, once given, can be used whenever the Union believes they are at an impasse in negotiations)
  • The Union considers negotiations to have reached impasse
  • The current collective agreement has expired
  • A conciliation “No Board” report has been issued by the Ministry of Labour
  • 16 days from the date of the No Board Report have passed