College professors have no choice but to vote to give the union bargaining team a strike mandate when cast their ballots Wednesday, an Algonquin College professor said.
After travelling to different campuses across the province with other members of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union bargaining team, Rod Bain senses that no teacher wants a strike, but that management has imposed terms that leave them no choice but to support a strike mandate.
Bain said strike mandates usually receive strong support from the union members and both sides would likely return to the table after the vote. They have not spoken since Dec. 15.
On Monday, Algonquin College president Robert Gillett sent a letter to students stating that there would not be a strike until February, if no agreement could be reached.
In the event of a strike, Gillett wrote that the college would develop semester completion plans to help students complete their studies.
“Please rest assured that we will do everything in our power to make this semester as positive as possible,” Gillett wrote.
