The province-wide strike by more than 10,000 full-time college support staff is being felt directly in Sarnia, as picket lines went up at Lambton College Thursday morning. The job action, which began at 12:01 a.m. on September 11, has brought to a head months of negotiation between the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/SEFPO) and […]
The province-wide strike by more than 10,000 full-time college support staff is being felt directly in Sarnia, as picket lines went up at Lambton College Thursday morning. The job action, which began at 12:01 a.m. on September 11, has brought to a head months of negotiation between the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/SEFPO) and the colleges' bargaining agent.
While classes at Lambton College are continuing, the strike is causing disruptions to vital student services. Picket lines were set up at the college's entrances on London Line, Wellington Street, and at the Fire School on Lasalle Line. The college has advised that classes will continue, but students are being told to expect delays.
According to OPSEU/SEFPO, the strike is about more than just a new contract; it's a fight for the future of student support and the integrity of the public college system. The union points to the loss of 10,000 jobs and more than 650 programs across the province this year alone—a crisis they say is fuelled by the provincial government's chronic underfunding and a shift in resources toward private training providers.
"We know our communities will stand with us, because this fight is also about access to local, public education in our backyards," said JP Hornick, President of OPSEU/SEFPO. The union argues that the province's controversial $2.5 billion Skills Development Fund (SDF) is being used to subsidize a privatized career training system, with more than half of its funding this year going to private companies and providers based in the Greater Toronto Area. This, they contend, is "stealing resources from our backyards".
The impact on students goes beyond potential transit delays and reduced services. The striking staff includes a wide range of positions crucial to the student experience, including disability services staff, library technologists, student success coordinators, and staff in financial aid and registrar offices. The union asserts that job security for these frontline workers is key to stabilizing a system they describe as being plunged into chaos.
The strike also reflects a broader concern about the erosion of public education in favour of private interests. The union's report on the SDF cites instances where publicly funded college programs, such as culinary and hospitality programs, have been cut in underserved regions while multi-million dollar awards go to private hospitality giants. This, coupled with the union's claim of library technologists being replaced by vending machines, underscores their argument that public resources are being diverted from community-focused education.
As the strike continues, local students, college staff, and the wider community will be watching to see how the dispute is resolved and what it means for the long-term viability of local public education.
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