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Talks between Ontario’s colleges and the union representing 10,000 striking support staff are set to resume Friday with the help of a government-appointed mediator.
News of the move came Wednesday, a day after the Ministry of Colleges and Universities said a mediator was available to aid in talks should the two sides agree.
Support staff walked off the job two weeks ago, and no negotiations have been held to date.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
OPSEU, the Ontario Public Service Employees’ Union, has confirmed it will return to the table Friday.
The College Employer Council, which bargains on behalf of the province’s 24 public colleges, said “we hope this process will result in a negotiated agreement and put an end to this unnecessary strike.”
The union is seeking improved job security in light of thousands of job losses that have already happened as schools struggle with federal cutbacks to lucrative international students, a provincial tuition freeze and government funding they say hasn’t kept up with their costs.
On Tuesday, OPSEU appealed for a government mediator to help broker a deal.
Council CEO Graham Lloyd said the colleges have already agreed to $145 million to fund wage hikes, improved benefits and some job security, but has warned that some union demands — including no layoffs, no contracting out and a ban on college mergers — are a non-starter.
He had previously urged that the two sides enter into mediation, followed by binding arbitration to settle any outstanding differences, as happened during recent successful contract talks for college faculty.
But OPSEU has said it has “zero appetite” for an arbitrated settlement.
Lloyd said that in returning to the bargaining table, “we hope, with the assistance of a government mediator, we will be able to secure a fair deal that balances the needs of employees, students, and the long-term sustainability of the college system.”
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