Ontario students lacked a voice in college strike: student reps

by Bernard de Vaal

Nov. 21 saw students return to class after a five-week strike, which student council representatives say left some 500,000 students with little to no voice.

Temperaments were running high during the final weeks of the strike as the College Employer College remained at loggerheads with OPSEU, the union representative.

Although most of the faculty demands were met through the arbitration process, outstanding issues surrounding academic freedom kept the two sides from reaching an agreement.

Thursday, Nov. 16, Ontario Premiere Kathleen Wynne introduced back-to-work legislation. The NDP opposed, but on Sunday afternoon the Liberals used their majority vote to pass the legislation.

Social Media was one of the most prominent platforms students used to vent their concerns over the absence of updates on how the negotiations were progressing.

Nick Goran, SRC president of St. Clair College says that during the final week of the strike, absence of student representation at the bargaining table and media black-out on negotiations left students frustrated and desperately seeking answers.

“The SRC had three social media coordinators answering questions throughout the day, sometimes until 9:00 at night,” Goran says.

Goran feels negative student sentiments could have been allayed had first-hand information on negotiations been more readily available.

“I’m sure that us and the other 24 colleges could agree that we must have, not a voice at the bargaining table but at least, a seat,” Goran tells the Mediaplex News.

Goran says despite anger at the forced class stoppage, there is little resentment as classes resumed.

“Most teachers I’ve heard from and students communicating with us have been positive,” Goran notes. He says everyone is focused on “trying to work through it and ensure that students are successful at this point.”

Mr. Waseem Habash, vice-president, academics at St. Clair College notes most confusion sprang from a misunderstanding of how the semester would be successfully altered so that academic outcomes would be met.

Habash also responded to student concerns about the lack of representation at the bargaining table.

“I always encourage students to always speak up. Voice their opinions,” he said. “I encourage them to always do it in a respectful manner, that provides a positive tone to everybody. Because there is nothing wrong with forcing your opinion. There is nothing wrong with stating, ‘Hey, I feel I’ve been unjustly harmed here.’ It’s always our job to hear them and to react to their concerns.”

Habash adds it’s unlikely colleges will see another work stoppage in the next couple of years.

Goran hopes the students have more say when the faculty and council inevitably lock horns again in the future.