Dec. 18 - Please see below, copies of helpful student FAQ copies as provided by the College Employer Council (CEC).  

Nov. 6 - Please see below, copies of helpful student FAQ copies as provided by the College Employer Council (CEC).  

Please note that a strike vote has taken place and the bargaining unit has voted in favour of a strike.

Will academic employees go on strike? 

  • We certainly hope not. The CEC remains dedicated to negotiating with the CAAT-A bargaining team. 

  • Only the Union team can determine if faculty goes on strike and what form of strike action it engages in (work-to-rule, partial walk-out, rotating strikes, walk-out). 

  • The parties have agreed to continue non-binding mediation in January. 

  • OPSEU has requested a no-board report, once it is issued, they must wait 16 days before any labour action can take place. 

  • The earliest time that OPSEU will be in a position to strike is mid-January. 

When will academic employees go on strike? 

  • Currently the CAAT-A bargaining team has a strike mandate and has requested a no-board report. Once the report is issued and 16 days have passed, and the union has provided the Colleges with 5 days’ notice, the CAAT-A bargaining team will be in a legal strike position. 

  • The parties remain in mediation. 

  • The earliest time that OPSEU will be in a position to strike is mid-January. 

Will I get any notice before a strike occurs? 

  • Yes, the union must provide the Colleges 5 days’ notice before any labour action can occur. 

  • The Colleges will share the news of the notice with students, faculty, and the College community. 

What does a no board report mean? 

  • A no board report recognizes that the parties are at an impasse and starts the timeline associated with a legal strike or lockout. 

  • 16 days after a no-board report is issued, OPSEU will be in a legal strike position provided they have also provided the Colleges with 5 days notice. 

What happens after a no board report is issued? 

  • A no board report does not prevent the parties from further bargaining. 

  • A legal strike can occur once the collective agreement has expired, a strike vote has taken place, and at least 16 days have elapsed from the date of the no board report. 

  • Should the Colleges wish to introduce new terms of employment or engage in a lockout, they will legally be able to do so 16 days after the no board report is issued. 

What is a strike vote?

  • Note that a strike vote does not mean an immediate strike.

  • A positive strike vote by the members of the bargaining unit is one of the requirements needed for the Union to be permitted to legally strike.

How could work to rule affect the College?

  • We anticipate little impact from a work-to-rule campaign. Classes will continue to operate as scheduled. 

What does a strike mean?

  • If a full strike were to occur, we will immediately implement a plan to pause classes and layoff employees who will be on strike. This includes ending contracts for all non-full-time staff since all classes will pause. 

  • All facilities will be open to continue to support students learning through the library and other sources. 

If a strike occurs and extend the school year, will residence stays be extended and what will the cost be?   

  • Fanshawe would extend residence stays to accommodate a longer term, at no additional cost to the student. 

Can students stay in residence during a strike?    

  • Residence will remain open. Students can choose to stay or return home. Class can resume the next day upon conclusion of any strike activity.

What services will be available on campus in the event of a strike? Food? Support? Activities?    

  • Generally, all services remain open. Please note however that this could change as any strike action extends in duration

Can students access campus or are they discouraged from crossing the picket line?    

  • Campus would remain open and accessible to students. Anyone entering campus would be asked to respect the picket line, stop, take a moment to respectfully and politely interact with the individuals on the line.

Will online classes be impacted in the event of a strike?    

  • Any strike action by the faculty unit would impact both in-person and online students.

Can International students work part time    

Are there any changes to employment rules for international student should a strike happen?   

What happens to my placement if a strike were to happen?   

  • Please contact your faculty placement advisor

Where can I learn more about negotiations and strike action? 

  • The CEC website contains information on the bargaining process and an ongoing archive of proposals from both parties. 

  • Additionally, all news updates are published across CEC social media channels and the website. 

  • Please visit www.CollegeEmployerCouncil.ca or follow the CEC on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn.