Labour Negotiations at George Brown College

A no-board report means negotiations have reached a deadlock, and a conciliator couldn’t help resolve the issues. It’s a formal step in the process. Sixteen days after the report is issued, the current agreement between the Colleges and the faculty union is no longer binding. At that point, the Union can give notice to strike.

At colleges, strikes are peaceful forms of protest organized by the union, typically to encourage the employer to meet their demands. Striking employees may form picket lines, which could cause delays when entering campus.

A strike can take different forms but generally involves refusing to work as usual to slow down, disrupt, or halt college operations. Unfortunately, when faculty members take such actions, it

can negatively impact academic delivery to varying degrees, affecting students and the learning process.

We hope to avoid a strike and want to reassure you that the decision to initiate a strike lies solely with the OPSEU CAAT-A, the union representing our full-time and partial-load professors, instructors, counsellors, and librarians. Our priority is to ensure no disruptions to your educational journey.

If the Union chooses to initiate a strike, they are required to give the Colleges a five-day notice beforehand. On receiving this notice, the College will communicate the relevant information to students, employees, and the wider College community. Updates will also be made available on this page.

There is a possibility that the semester could face disruptions. Should a strike occur, it might lead to an extended semester or delays in exams and convocation ceremonies. In the event of a strike that lasts a few weeks, there may be adjustments to the current semester's end date and the subsequent semester's start date. Any such changes would be promptly communicated to you by the college. For ongoing updates, please continue to check this page.

One example is binding interest arbitration, in which a neutral third-party arbitrator, agreed upon by both sides, makes decisions when the parties cannot reach a compromise themselves. This method has been successfully employed in the past two academic rounds of negotiations.

Labour action doesn’t always mean a full strike. It can take many forms, including work-to-rule, partial walkouts, rotating strikes, or a full walkout. The decision on the type and timing of strike action is solely determined by the Union.

Strike action can take several forms, including work-to-rule, partial walkouts, rotating strikes, and full walkouts:

• Work-to-rule: Employees strictly follow their assigned duties, adhering closely to policies and contract obligations without taking on any additional tasks.
• Partial walkout: Employees decline to perform certain assigned duties while continuing with others.
• Rotating strike: Employees fully withdraw their services for short periods at different institutions in rotation.
• Full walkout: Employees cease all work and participate in picketing.

The Colleges cannot force faculty to strike, nor will they initiate a work stoppage through a lockout. Any decision to engage in strike action—such as work-to-rule, partial walkouts, rotating strikes, or full walkouts—is solely determined by the Union.