The council representing Ontario college management is accusing the union representing striking faculty of 'stonewalling' negotiations.
In a statement, the College Employer Council says the Ontario Public Service Union (OPSEU) is forcing the province-wide college strike, now in its fourth week, to continue,
"OPSEU's insistence on continuing the strike is a terrible outcome for students and faculty," said Sonia Del Missier, the chair of the council's bargaining team in a statement.
The council has asked the Ontario Labour Relations Board to schedule a vote on its offer.
"We addressed all faculty priorities and the offer that is available for faculty right now - on the table - should have ended this strike,” Del Missier said.
OPSEU is firing back saying the council should be working out a deal at the bargaining table instead of trying to schedule a vote.
"We have said all along that faculty have a better plan for the colleges, and we do," said JP Hornick, chair of the faculty bargaining team. "Our objective since we began bargaining in July has been to improve education quality for students and fairness for faculty."
Last week Algonquin College president Cheryl Jensen said the fall semester may have to be extended into December if the strike goes on much longer. The job action has kept students at all 24 of Ontario's public colleges out of class since Oct. 16.