Ontario College Support Staff Strike Disrupts Student Services

Students at Fanshawe College in Ontario are facing significant disruptions to their education as approximately **10,000 support staff** across the province’s community colleges began striking on **October 26, 2023**. The walkout follows a breakdown in contract negotiations between the **Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU)** and the **College Employer Council**. As a result, many students are grappling with the challenges of transitioning from high school to college without the necessary support services.

Anlel Yakhis and Brayden Korkola, both enrolled in a program at Fanshawe College, expressed their frustration over the situation. They have been required to switch to online classes after just two weeks of in-person instruction. “We have to have classes online,” Korkola noted, while Yakhis added, “We have to take Chromebooks home.” This abrupt shift has left students feeling disillusioned, particularly as they navigate the already challenging transition from high school to a college environment.

According to Yakhis, the timing of the strike is particularly difficult. “Especially the transition from high school to college, it’s a very different transition. You know, high school we had to do online for two years because of COVID, and it’s kind of just not it,” he said. The disruption has raised concerns about the overall student experience at Fanshawe College, which employs around **700 full-time support staff**.

Adam Rayfield, president of OPSEU Local 109, highlighted the immediate impact the strike will have on student services. He emphasized the importance of support staff, stating, “Student services, things like counseling, accessibility services, the library and learning commons, the bookstore, the print shop, all those places that students utilize to enhance their experience” will be significantly affected. The absence of these services is expected to create notable challenges for students relying on them to succeed academically.

The strike garnered political attention as well, with several local New Democratic Party (NDP) Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) joining the picket lines in London. **Peggy Sattler**, the party’s shadow minister for colleges and universities, attributed the strike to government underfunding. “The Ford government has refused to invest,” Sattler stated. She criticized the provincial government for directing public funds toward private training providers at the expense of public colleges.

In response to the strike, Fanshawe College issued a statement affirming that classes would continue during the labor dispute. The college reassured students and staff that all campuses will remain open and that scheduled classes, labs, and learning activities would proceed as planned. However, it cautioned that essential student services may be limited, leading to longer wait times and potential closures of non-essential services.

As the strike continues, students at Fanshawe College are left to navigate a complex educational landscape without the vital support systems typically in place. With the situation evolving, both students and faculty are hoping for a swift resolution to the labor dispute that will restore normalcy to their academic experience.