RE: Urgent Resolution Needed: Full Time Support Staff Strike Impacting Ontario College Students
On behalf of the Ontario Student Voices (OSV) and the College Student Alliance (CSA), representing hundreds of thousands of students, we remain very concerned about the ongoing full time support staff strike. While we certainly appreciate the Ontario Government’s assistance in appointing a mediator to assist in this process, it is now critical that the College Employer Council (CEC) and OPSEU put the highest priority on these mediation efforts and swiftly reach a fair and balanced agreement.
At present, this strike is adversely impacting students who rely on essential services for their academic success and well-being. Services like disability accommodations, mental health resources, co-op coordinators, and financial aid are crucial, especially at the start of a semester.
Direct Quotes From Impacted Students:
“Without support staff, I can’t access my accommodations or get the guidance I need to succeed. I even failed an assignment because help wasn’t available. It’s like a three-legged stool: professors, support staff, and the institution, and when one is missing, the whole system collapses.”
“As a Program Assistant at an [on-campus] EDIB-focused space, I have seen firsthand how the ongoing strike has disrupted students who come to campus seeking community... [the strike] has greatly reduced opportunities to connect, feel supported, and build friendships.... Our recent community event also saw one of the lowest turnouts I have experienced."
“Support staff are essential to my education. Without their help, it’s nearly impossible to manage school.”
OSV and CSA believe this disruption further highlights a chronically underfunded college system, which has seen a 16% decrease in provincial government funding over five years, resulting in the lowest per-student expenditure in Canada. There is little doubt that this persistent funding crisis has fueled the dispute, further interrupting students’ education and experience. As we have said all along, students must not be collateral damage in labour negotiations, depriving them of services and support they have paid for in good faith.
Together, we call for swift action through this mediation to end this strike. Furthermore, we continue to call on the Ontario Government for a comprehensive strategy to stabilize and enhance sector funding. This is essential to prevent future disruptions and ensure students can graduate and contribute to Ontario’s skilled labor work force. Our collective economic future depends on it.
We stand united in advocating for students' rights and needs and urge all parties to urgently prioritize a resolution for our future.
