The union that represents Ontario's college faculty said some form of labor action could begin next Thursday.
The Ontario Public Service Employees Union will be on a legal strike starting Saturday but must give five days' notice before starting a strike.
OPSEU said it gave the necessary notice on Friday.
The union said it will meet with the College Employers Council, the bargaining agent for Ontario's 24 public colleges, for non-binding arbitration on Monday and Tuesday and is committed to “productively reaching an agreement.”
But it said that unless an arbitration agreement is reached, it seems unlikely that an agreement to protect its members can be reached without “immediate labor action.”
The union said two weeks ago that no real progress had been made in contract talks, and arbitration in early December raised concerns about a potential deterioration in working conditions, job security and the quality of education.
Council disappointed at the timing of the move
Council CEO Graham Lloyd said on Friday he was disappointed the union had chosen to give notice just days before arbitration was set to resume.
“We urge OPSEU to enter into arbitration … with more realistic demands so that we can reach an agreement and avoid an unnecessary strike,” he said in a statement.
The CEC said the union's demands would increase educational costs at a time when institutions are facing financial instability.
