Working to 'hammer out a proper agreement:' college faculty reject latest offer

Ontario college students will remain out of the classroom for now, as striking faculty have voted 86 per cent in favour of rejecting the latest offer from the College Employer Council.

About 12,000 college faculty, including professors, instructors, counsellors and librarians have been on the picket lines since October16. About 500,000 students are affected.

On Thursday, the results from the latest college faculty vote were released. The union representing the workers says 95 per cent of its members voted, and 86 per cent voted to reject the latest deal.

"I am incredibly impressed [of] the astounding rejection rate," Dave Fasciano, the union head representing College Boreal faculty said. "It's unheard of."

He says it's time for a fair deal for everyone to be worked out so instructors and students can get back in the classroom.

"As a professor, it means the quality of education will be protected for the years going forward," he said. "Generations to come are going to benefit if we can manage to hammer out a proper agreement."

'Very upset'

In a statement, Northern College president Fred Gibbons says the vote outcome is a "terrible result."

"This strike has gone on far too long and a resolution must be found that gets our students and faculty back in class," he said.

"I completely sympathize with our students who have been caught in this strike."

First year medical radiation technology student at Cambrian College Amelia Bencze, says she wasn't pleased to hear the latest deal was rejected.

"It makes me feel very upset," she said.

"I really want to be able to get back to classes. I care about my education and this is not helping."

Not long after the results of the vote were released, Premier Kathleen Wynne issued a statement saying she will meet with college and union representatives on Thursday to discuss how the situation can be immediately resolved.