Support workers at Ontario’s public colleges have started striking after failing to agree on a new contract before the midnight deadline.
The 10,000 full-time support staff, who are part of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, want higher pay, better benefits, and more job security. They officially went on strike at 12:01 a. m.
This group includes employees at Conestoga College. The college shared on social media that it will stay open and classes will still happen despite the strike.
Picket lines are planned for Thursday at Conestoga campuses throughout Waterloo Region and nearby locations.
The picket spots include Kitchener on Doon Valley Drive, Cambridge on Reuter Drive, Waterloo on University Avenue East, Stratford on Erie Street, and Guelph on Speedvale Avenue West.
Grand River Transit announced their buses won’t cross the picket lines near those campuses.
The union also represents college faculty in Ontario and says nearly 10,000 faculty and staff have lost or might lose their jobs due to many program cuts or pauses since last year.
Due to labour action at Conestoga College, buses are not serving stops at Doon campus or Cambridge – Fountain campus.
For service to Doon campus, use stop 3801. For service to Cambridge – Fountain campus, use stops 3883 or 3388. pic. twitter. com/9v Gcj Syvv J
– Grand River Transit (@GRT_ROW) September 11, 2025
Ontario colleges have been relying more and more on tuition from international students over recent years because provincial funding has been low and tuition fees frozen for a long time. Things got tougher when the federal government set limits on how many international students can attend.
The College Employer Council claims that meeting the union’s demands would cost colleges over $900 million extra – though the union disagrees with that number.
The council says it has offered raises in pay and benefits, better severance deals, improved vacation carry-over options, plus other perks.
Information contributed by Cambridge Chronicle.
