Both sides still talking but no progress yet on faculty strike at Oshawa’s Ontario Tech University

Ontario Tech’s bargaining team believes “significant progress” was made on settling a contract dispute with the Faculty Association (UOITFA) Thursday, with the negotiating session lasting until midnight.

“We are uncertain as to why the FA opted to adjourn the meeting and why a tentative deal couldn’t have been finalized tonight,” the school declared in a statement. “The university has remained at the table throughout negotiations and we will continue to bargain with the FA whenever they make themselves available. We will continue to provide updates as they become available.”

Faculty members on the picket lines, however, say Ontario Tech has not budged on several important sticking points in the dispute, including workload, class size and retirement packages, and are willing to stay on strike until those demands are met.

The faculty members began strike action Thursday at 11 a.m. with the establishment of picket lines at the north Oshawa school.

Oshawa MPP Jennifer French has waded into the dispute, calling for both sides to “stay at the table” until an agreement is reached.

French said a prolonged strike would be “disruptive” to many people and asked the Province to step in to encourage the university to negotiate a fair contract with the faculty.

“The school year has already had so many challenges, and a strike should be avoided if possible.”