The College Employer Council (CEC) and the Union OPSEU CAAT-A bargaining team (representing full-time and partial-load professors, instructors, librarians, and counsellors) are currently negotiating a collective agreement.
Formal negotiations between the parties started in July 2024. In October, the CAAT-A bargaining team requested a strike vote and conciliation. On November 6, the two parties both agreed to enter non-binding mediation, which continues.
On December 18, 2024, the Ministry of Labour issued a no-board report on the request of the CAAT-A bargaining team, and on January 3, the CAAT-A bargaining team delivered the 5 days’ notice of potential strike action commencing Thursday January 9, 2025.
These FAQs have been created and updated to help answer student questions about the ongoing negotiations and are adapted from the CEC’s Student FAQ.
- There is the potential that a semester could be interrupted, resulting in an extended semester or delayed exams.
- Centennial College will do everything possible to ensure students can successfully complete the semester.
- If there is a strike, depending on the length it may affect important dates like your start date, end date, or other dates – make sure you watch Centennial College’s website and check your myCentennial email for important updates about date changes.
A strike may take different forms. In general, it is a refusal to work in the normal way that is designed to slow down, disrupt, or stop operations. Depending on the form of the strike, there are different possible impacts on your learning. Work-to-rule, partial walk-out, rotating strike, and full walk-out are all forms of strike.
In work-to-rule:
- All academic employees perform only the duties that have been assigned, strictly adhering to policy and contract obligations.
- Classes continue as scheduled, but there may be some limits placed on your time with or access to faculty outside of class.
- Librarians and Learning Strategists would likely continue providing core services such as research consultations, ASPIRE and other study skills support, and virtual chat support (askON) coverage, as these activities align with their primary duties. Tutors will remain available to assist students in reviewing coursework that has already been taught in class. However, there might be limitations on tasks beyond core duties, such as committee work, additional workshops (i.e., makerspace), or extended availability outside regular hour.
- Counselling services will continue to be available as normal.
In a rotating strike:
- Academic employees walk out entirely for short periods of time at different institutions.
- Expect disruptions to classes, counsellors and librarians/learning strategists.
- Tutors will remain available to assist students with coursework review, and students can continue to access in-person help at Library service desks and virtual chat support through askON.
In a full walk-out strike:
- Academic Employees withdraw all their services and walk the picket line.
- Classes will be suspended until the end of the walk-out and students are will not be able to contact faculty.
- Even if classes are temporarily disrupted, the library remains open to support your academic success. Our study spaces are available for you to stay on track, write those papers, get ahead, collaborate with friends, or find a quiet place to focus.
- Learning Strategist and librarian support will not be available during a walk-out; however, online resources can be found on the Learning Strategies, Math Help, and Research Guides. Libraries remain open. Library technicians and other staff are available to assist with basic questions in person and via AskON.
- The following mental health supports will continue to be available to students while counsellors are off the job:
- Togetherall - 24/7 Online Peer Support
- Centennial Talks - One-on-One and Group Peer Support with Centennial Student
- WeSpeakStudent - Mental Health and Wellness Services for Domestic Students through the Dialogue App
- Guardme Student Support Program - Mental Health and Wellness Services for International Students through the TELUS Health Student Support App
- Good2Talk – Confidential Support Services for Post-Secondary Students
- Suicide Crisis Helpline – 24/7 Helpline
- For more information about how to access mental health support, visit the Centre for Accessible Learning and Counselling Services (CALCS) website.
- They can last for a day or for an extended period.
- In 2017, the Union engaged in a full walk-out strike that lasted for more than five weeks. Students were still able to complete their semester.
- In the event of a strike, the impact on your studies will depend on the form the strike takes.
- In the event of work-to-rule, classes will continue as scheduled, but there may be some impacts on your studies such as limits placed on your time with or access to faculty outside of class.
- A partial walk-out may have more significant impacts, such as timely grading of assignments, limited feedback/communication from your professors, or timely access to learning materials.
- In a rotating strike, some disruptions to scheduled classes are likely. A plan for making up missed time or learning will be communicated by your professors upon the conclusion of the strike.
- In the event of a full walk-out, classes will be suspended until the end of the strike and students will not be able to contact faculty. Campuses and services remain open.
- If the semester is impacted, the College will do everything possible to ensure that all students have the opportunity to complete the semester.
- Go to the College website for updates on the labour dispute.
- If you plan to visit campus, leave extra time for travelling to the College as picket lines may be set up at campus entrances and limit traffic flow.
- If there is a full walk-out strike and you take transit to campus, be aware that transit buses will drop students off outside of the campus to respect picket lines.
- Yes, campuses have always remained open during strikes.
- When picket lines occur, picketers cannot prevent access to those looking to enter campus.
- In the event of a full walk-out which includes picket lines, please read our Tips for Crossing a Picket Line Safely and Respectfully.
- Centennial is committed to providing every student with the education they need to succeed. Regardless of how events unfold, the entire College community will pull together to facilitate students meeting their learning outcomes.
- Some possible solutions include adjustment of assignment requirements and deadlines, credit for work completed during the walk-out, and extension of semester dates to accommodate missed time. Rest assured that students' situations and needs will be top of mind in all decision-making.
- Create an independent study plan by reviewing your course outlines, the materials in the learning management system, and gathering the study materials you will need. Self-directed learning will ensure you stay on track and will be prepared for possible compressed timelines when classes resume.
- Speak to your professors before a strike occurs to seek clarification on course content or assignments. This will ensure you can execute your self-study plan and continue to work on assignments during a strike.
- Request your professor’s feedback on any work in progress and if possible complete current assignments before the strike starts to prevent you from falling behind in the event of a prolonged disruption.
- Form a study group so that you can seamlessly maintain momentum and have peer support as you continue to focus on your studies should there be a strike.
- During work-to-rule (vs. a walk-out) you can still contact a Learning Strategist to study more effectively and manage your time to stay on top of your studies, meet with a librarian for one-on-one research help with your assignments, or connect directly with library staff through askON, a virtual chat service open 9 a.m. - 11 p.m., Monday to Friday, and 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday.
- Centennial's Tutoring Services can provide you with instruction and guidance to better understand your course content. This will involve meeting one-to-one or in small groups with a student tutor who has already successfully completed the course.
- Remember to use the online resources found on the Learning Strategies and Math Help guides.
- Your Success Advisor is a valuable resource available to provide support and help you identify and navigate College resources. Find your Success Advisor's name and contact information on the Success Advising website.
- We would also recommend that you work with classmates to share feedback and generate discussion around your course work. Peer-to-peer engagement is an important part of academic life and one that can greatly strengthen your opportunities to succeed.
- We strongly encourage you to continue to access your course materials and other related materials throughout the strike. The Libraries will remain open and you can access the learning management system.
Learning Strategist and librarian support will not be available during a walk-out; however, please remember to use the online resources found on the Learning Strategies, Math Help, and Research Guides. Libraries will remain open and staff, i.e., library technicians, can assist with basic questions.
Mental health support will be available in different forms during a strike. Visit the Centre for Accessible Learning and Counselling Services (CALCS) website to learn more and access supports.
- In the event of a strike, the College is committed to ensuring that all students have the opportunity to complete the semester. Therefore, the existing refund policy for your program would remain in place.
- Review the dates and deadlines for withdrawing with a refund, a partial refund, or without an academic penalty on the College's important dates webpage.
- Centennial will continue to provide the College community with regular updates on our Academic Employees Contract Negotiations webpage. We also recommend that you return to this FAQs page as we continue to update this content.
- You may also refer to the College Employer Council (CEC) website which contains information on the bargaining process and an ongoing archive of proposals from both parties.
- Additionally, all news updates are published across CEC social media channels and the website.
- Please visit www.CollegeEmployerCouncil.ca or follow the CEC on X, Facebook, LinkedIn.
Mental health support will be available in different forms during a strike. Visit the Centre for Accessible Learning and Counselling Services (CALCS) website to learn more and access supports.
During work-to-rule, Centennial’s counselling services will continue to be available as normal. In the event of a walk-out strike, the following mental health supports will continue to be available to students:
- Togetherall - 24/7 Online Peer Support
- Centennial Talks - One-on-One and Group Peer Support with Centennial Student
- WeSpeakStudent - Mental Health and Wellness Services for Domestic Students through the Dialogue App
- Guardme Student Support Program - Mental Health and Wellness Services for International Students through the TELUS Health Student Support App
- Good2Talk – Confidential Support Services for Post-Secondary Students
- Suicide Crisis Helpline – 24/7 Helpline