At the colleges, strikes are usually peaceful forms of protest. Picket lines may be formed by striking employees and there can be delays while entering campuses.

A strike may take different forms. In general, it is a refusal to work in the normal way that is designed to slow down, disrupt, or stop college operations. A strike is organized by a union as a form of protest typically in an attempt to force the colleges to agree to their demands. There are different forms of strikes: work-to-rule, partial walk-out, rotating strike, and full walk-out strike.

No. There can be no strike unless there is a positive strike vote. Once a positive strike vote is given, the union is not required to go back to the members for confirmation of that vote.

The decision whether or not to strike is exclusively determined by the union once a positive strike vote has taken place.

There is the possibility of a legal strike on Thursday, September 11, 2025.

For information about a strike at your college, please check your email, the college website and social media posts.

You can also find information at Bargaining | College Employer Council – CEC and at Colleges – OPSEU SEFPO

For information about a strike at your college, please check your email, the college website and social media posts. You can also find information at Bargaining | College Employer Council – CEC and at Colleges – OPSEU SEFPO

If you plan to visit campus, leave extra time for travelling to the college as picket lines may be set up at campus entrances and limit traffic flow.

Not necessarily. This strike does not directly involve full-time or part-time professors and most academic employees. The striking employees work in positions or classifications such as office, clerical, technical, health care, maintenance, building service, shipping, transportation, cafeteria, security, parking, academic technologist, and nursery staff. This does include some members of the registrar’s office and student services offices, so those areas may be impacted.

Yes. In Ontario, other employee groups cannot legally join a strike unless they are part of the same bargaining unit. Full-time and part-time professors/instructors and academic employees (such as librarians and counsellors) as well as part-time support staff will all continue working.

However, support staff provide a wide range of student services which will be impacted.

The striking workers work in positions or classifications such as office, clerical, technical, health care, maintenance, building service, shipping, transportation, cafeteria, security, parking, academic technologist, and nursery staff. Support staff provide a wide range of student services which will be impacted. but colleges will very likely continue to operate if feasible.

Colleges will do everything they can to minimize the impact of a strike on students. Student support services may be impacted by the strike – colleges will communicate to their college community about any impacts the strike will have on services.

The college will continue working to provide you with world-class college experience. The normal rules for refunds will continue to apply during a strike.

Firstly, the colleges continue to bargain with the union in an effort to reach a renewal collective agreement. As well, colleges have been preparing contingency plans and will communicate updates to students regularly.

For information about a strike at your college, please check your email, the college website and social media posts. You can also find information at Bargaining | College Employer Council – CEC and at Colleges – OPSEU SEFPO

Your study permit remains active and valid if there is a strike. A support staff strike is very unlikely to affect your academic progress. Colleges will work to support your academic progress and maintain your student status during a strike.

A strike will not impact your eligibility for your PGWP.

Some services for international students may be impacted by a strike.

No. Faculty are not part of this strike, so classes should continue as scheduled.

Contact the college, as usual. Check the college’s website for updates about the impact to services by a strike.