Ontario’s community college support staff returned to work this week after an 18-day strike, according to the Ottawa Citizen.
The strike ended late Sept. 18, when the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) and the College Employer Council reached a tentative deal sending 8,000 support staff workers, including custodians, cafeteria workers and information technology specialists, back to work, according to the Citizen.
The workers walked off the job Sept. 1, demanding a 3 per cent salary increase every year, as well as more full-time jobs.
“Students are relieved to know the strike is over, and applaud OPSEU and the [council] for reaching an agreement," Brian Costantini, president of the College Student Alliance, said in a press release. “Today is a win for everyone in the colleges.”
While they remained open, Ontario’s 24 colleges were not “fully operational,” according to Costantini.
“The college experience that so many [new students] have waited for is finally here,” he said in the press release.