St. Lawrence College students optimistic as talks resume in faculty strike

There was a glimmer of optimism Wednesday in the two-and-a-half-week-old strike by Ontario college faculty.

The Ministry of Labour has called both sides back to the bargaining table for new talks that will begin Thursday.

This is welcome news to St. Lawrence College student Alice Charlton who is studying to be a veterinary assistant.

“There’s movement and that at least gives us not a light at the end of the tunnel but a little glimpse I guess. I just want it to be over, I think all of us at this point just want it to be over,” Charlton said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "There's movement and that at least gives us not a light at the end of the tunnel but a little glimpse I guess. I just want it to be over, I think all of us at this point just want it to be over," Charlton said.

That sentiment was echoed by a number of students including Lily Hughes who is taking practical nursing.

“I’m excited that they’re back talking because it means it could speed up the process of us getting back in class but also stressed because I’m really behind on my work, but I guess I’ll just have to catch up,” Hughes said.

Local union representatives say they are cautiously optimistic about the new round of talks while the president of St. Lawrence College, Glenn Vollebregt, is hopeful the talks will lead to students and faculty heading back to class.

“We want to end this strike, it’s gone on much too long. We want our students and faculty back in class — I can’t say that enough,” Vollebregt said.

The strike by 12,000 faculty members is affecting 300,000 students across the province.