It was one year ago Monday, faculty at Ontario colleges hit the picket lines for five weeks to back contract demands.
The members of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union are holding a "College Workers Day of Action" at all college campuses across the province.
At St. Clair College in Windsor, members of OPSEU Local 138 are interacting with students and asking them to sign a petition supporting a jump in minimum wage to $15/hour and also equal pay for equal work.
Local 138 President Bernie Nawrocki says they are also asking the province to re-introduce the College Task Force which was agreed upon after the strike.
Local @OPSEU members are asking students to sign a petition and are also handing out these pamphlets. They’ll be interacting with students until 4pm. #cklw pic.twitter.com/Di69c5JUVI
— Rob Hindi (@rhindi800) October 15, 2018
He says the task force which was resonsible for a joing system review, was scrapped by the PC's when they took office.
"The Ford government basically has reneged on its obligation to follow through on the capelin award which was to look at things such as precarious workers and the staffing ratio at colleges and a quality of education in Ontario," says Nawrocki.
He says staffing continues to be a big issue at Ontario colleges.
"That's what we were on strike for, for five weeks back last year in October and this is basically the anniversary date and staffing is still a continued issue at the colleges," says Nawrocki. "Colleges are growing with international students but the proportion of full time staffing is not growing on the proportional rate."
There are roughly 300 full time faculty at St. Clair College and about 600 part time members.
Local 138 is holding its information session at the college until 4pm.