This strike has seen 12,000 Ontario college faculty members, represented by OPSEU, and 500,000 students across the province, out of classrooms for nearly three weeks. A provincially appointed mediator was responsible for bringing the two sides back to the bargaining table on Nov. 2.
The two sides are negotiating with each other for the first time since the strike started on Oct. 15. Although they are back at the bargaining table, there is no word on how the talks progressed today.
University of Guelph-Humber’s vice-provost, John Walsh, said the “University of Guelph-Humber is hopeful that an agreement can be reached between the two parties to bring an end to the strike.”
Guelph-Humber has been on a modified plan regarding the running of classes. During the strike, Guelph-Humber faculty contracted by the University of Guelph resumed classes on an online-only basis.
According to Guelph-Humber’s manager of communications and public relations, Elissa Schmidt, Guelph-Humber and the University of Guelph will continue to work closely together on contingency planning, including course delivery.
As the strike approaches the one-month mark, many students are worried that their academic year may be in jeopardy.
J.P. Hornick, head of OPSEU’s bargaining team, said, “There have only been three strikes in the past and no student has ever lost their school year.”
At this point, Guelph-Humber is urging students to continue to keep up with their academic work and hoping that the two sides come to an agreement in the near future.
