Only 64% of Part-Time Support Staff Vote to Strike - Mediation Confirmed

On October 17, 2025, the Ontario Labour Relations Board confirmed that 64 percent of those part-time support staff who voted support a strike. This follows a four-day vote in which only 30 percent of the bargaining unit voted. 

Mediation dates confirmed with agreement for no labour action unless mediation fails

The College Employer Council (CEC) and the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) bargaining team have agreed to three mediation dates with William Kaplan to reach a renewal agreement. Mediation occurs November 20 and December 12, 2025, as well as January 28, 2026.

“As we said with the full-time support staff unit, a strike amongst our valued part-time staff is not necessary to achieve a fair agreement,” said Graham Lloyd, Chief Executive Officer of CEC. “The part-time support staff are important to the colleges and have worked hard, especially during the last five weeks, to support the college operations.”

“We believe our already tabled proposals recognize the valuable contributions part-time support staff provide Ontario colleges,” said Lloyd. “CEC is committed to reaching a fair collective agreement. The current offer includes meaningful brand-new gains. We look forward to working towards a mediated resolution and hope to avoid a strike in February 2026 so that we can all focus on what matters most to our system: the students.”