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Faculty Bargaining Update

Faculty Bargaining Update

The College Employer Council (CEC) and the Ontario college faculty union representing all full- time and partial load faculty, librarians, and counsellors at all publicly assisted colleges across Ontario have been negotiating in the hopes of reaching an agreement on a new contract since July 2024.

The latest update is that the bargaining teams have agreed to proceed to voluntary, non-binding mediation, which take place on December 6, 7, and 8, 2024. Based on legislative requirements, even if the parties remain at an impasse after mediation, there will be no strike or lockout in the Fall Term.

Classes will continue as scheduled for the remainder of the Fall Term.

Lambton College remains optimistic that a contract for full-time and part-time faculty, librarians and counsellors will be negotiated without a strike.

Please continue to check this page for updates and further information.

  • A strike will not take place during the Fall 2024 Term.
  • For a strike to occur, certain conditions need to be met within specific timelines. This latest update means that these requirements and timelines cannot be met during the Fall Term.

There are five requirements that must be met in order for a strike to occur. At this time, these requirements have not been met.

  1. In order for the faculty union to strike, they require a strike mandate, which they received on October 18, 2024.
  2. The parties need to enter/attend conciliation. The parties continue to be in conciliation.
  3. Conciliation must fail with either party requesting a no-board report. At this point, neither party has requested a no-board report.
  4. Once a no-board report is issued, 16 calendar days must pass.
  5. The faculty union must provide the Colleges with 5 days notice.

  • Both parties have agreed to enter non-binding mediation with experienced mediator, William Kaplan.
  • Both parties have agreed not to escalate negotiations through a strike or lock-out before or during mediation.
  • Mediation will take place December 6, 7 and 8, 2024.

  • In non-binding mediation, both parties will submit proposals to the agreed-upon neutral mediator.
  • The mediator will work with the parties to find common ground and try to help them reach an agreement.
  • If the parties cannot reach an agreement, the mediator cannot force either party to change their position.

Please be aware that there are different forms of labour action/strike. These include:

  • Work to Rule: Bargaining union employees perform only the duties that have been assigned, adhering to policy and contract obligations.
  • Partial Walk-Out Strike: Bargaining union employees do not perform some of their assigned duties.
  • Rotating Strike: Bargaining union employees walk out for short periods of time at different institutions.
  • Full Walk-Out Strike: Bargaining union employees withdraw all services from all colleges across the sector. This is the only form of strike that results in classes being entirely cancelled.

  • In a strike mandate vote, a union’s membership decides if they will give their bargaining team the authority to strike.
  • A strike vote of College Employees is supervised by the Ontario Labour Relations Board.
  • While a vote in favour of a strike mandate authorizes union leadership to give strike notice, it does not mean the union will automatically be going on strike.
  • Though a vote in favour of a strike mandate does not necessarily guarantee that a full walk-out strike will take place, labour action such as strikes are a possibility during any labour negotiation.
  • At Lambton College, our main concern is your education and student experience, and we are preparing for all possibilities.

Quick Facts

  • Although the 2021-2024 collective agreement has expired, it continues to remain in effect.
  • Labour action has the potential to impact students at the Lambton College Sarnia campus as well as the Lambton College Ottawa campus. We will continue to keep students informed about the situation.
  • Programs in Toronto and Mississauga are delivered by employees of Cestar College and Queen's College and are not affected by the current round of collective bargaining happening in the province.

Stay Informed

For the latest updates and information from both sides of the bargaining table, visit the following:

College Employer Council OPSEU College Faculty

Previous Updates

Recently, members of the faculty union were given the opportunity to engage in a strike mandate vote, which took place virtually between October 15 - 18, 2024. This process resulted in a 76% voter turnout, and a 79% vote in favour of a strike mandate granting the union's bargaining team the authority to authorize a strike.