The union representing faculty at Ontario’s public colleges says members have voted in favour of giving its bargaining team a strike mandate amid ongoing contract talks.
The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) said in a statement Thursday evening that 68 per cent of OPSEU-represented members endorsed the “ability to call a strike if the College Employer Council refuses to budge on key issues.”
Union officials said bargaining has been going on for 10 weeks and a strike or lockout deadline hasn’t been set yet.
READ MORE: Ontario college faculty union holding strike vote Sept. 14
OPSEU said key issues have included faculty involvement in “academic decision-making” and “fair treatment” for contract workers.
The collective agreement for approximately 12,000 faculty members expires on Sept. 30.
LISTEN: Nicole Zwiers, vice chair, CAAT Academic bargaining team, joins the Scott Thompson Show on AM900 CHML