Welcome

In this edition of CEC’s newsletter, we provide an update on academic part-time and sessional bargaining, sector news, and spotlight our new Human Resources Consultant in Benefits & Compensation.

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What's going on?

Mohawk College achieves Living Campus certification with WWF-Canada

Mohawk College achieved Living Campus certification in partnership with World Wildlife Fund - Canada (WWF-Canada). This certification recognizes the college's commitment to sustainability, conservation and creating a positive impact on the environment.

To achieve Living Campus certification, Mohawk College implemented a range of conservation and engagement activities throughout the 2025-2026 academic year. These efforts include planting sugar maple trees on campus in collaboration with the Centre for Indigenous Relations, Knowledge, and Learning (CIRKL) and Facilities teams, co-hosting a campus Bio-Blitz with Hamilton Conservation Authority, and facilitating a winter seed-sowing workshop with Green Team volunteers and Mohawk College community.

Conestoga expands electric vehicle charging network across three campuses

Conestoga continues to expand its electric vehicle (EV) charging network with the installation of 15 new charging stations across three college sites, supporting the transition to more sustainable transportation.

The new installations, completed over the past several months by the college's Facilities and Capital Development teams, provide charging capacity for an additional 29 electric vehicles. Fourteen of the new stations feature dual charging ports, allowing two vehicles to charge simultaneously. 

Conestoga has established a goal of equipping 1.5 per cent of its parking spaces with EV chargers by 2030. The college continues to take a phased approach to expanding its network, considering factors such as campus demand, accessibility and available electrical capacity.

Bargaining Update

Part-time Academic and Sessional Bargaining (CAAT-A PT/SL)

On October 28, 2026, the OPSEU CAAT-A PT/SL and CEC Management bargaining teams met at the bargaining table.

It has been more than a year and a half since the Union provided CEC with notice to bargain. Since then, the parties have met 7 times, despite the CEC offering more than 30 dates. Reaching a collective agreement that fosters stability for employees, students, and the broader community remains our priority, and we are committed to advancing negotiations without unnecessary delay.

The CEC has provided its initial comprehensive non-monetary package and has recently learned the Union cannot do the same, as it is still in demand setting locally and provincially.

Instead, the CAAT-A PT/SL bargaining team continues to provide proposals piecemeal, which we cannot respond to productively. As this is a first collective agreement, we are starting from a blank slate. These proposals are interconnected and reference articles that have yet to be produced and could change once the Union completes demand setting in December 2026 to incorporate membership feedback.

We reaffirmed our request for the Union’s comprehensive non-monetary package so that we can meaningfully engage in the collective bargaining process for this first collective agreement.

Management is committed to negotiating a collective agreement in a timely manner. All documents exchanged at the table are available on the CEC website here.

Our next bargaining date is November 16, 2026.

Meet the CEC Team

The CEC supports Ontario’s colleges with essential services in labour relations, benefits, governance, and human resources. Behind that work is a team of experienced and deeply committed professionals who support colleges and their employees every day.

Through this profile series, we invite you to get to know the people behind the work and the roles they play in assisting colleges.

John Pierce – Human Resources Consultant, Benefits & Compensation

John Pierce recently joined the CEC as Human Resources Consultant, Benefits & Compensation in October.  In this role, John will work with the Benefits & Compensation team to enable effective administration of the group insurance benefit plans provided to the Colleges as well as provide guidance and support to the Colleges on benefits and compensation related matters.

John brings more than 21 years of human resources experience within Ontario’s college sector with expertise in benefits administration, compensation, disability management, and total rewards.  Most recently, John served as Associate Director, Total Rewards at St. Lawrence College.

John holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Laurentian University and an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration – Human Resources from St. Lawrence College.  He also holds a Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) designation.