The recent strike by support staff at Ontario’s colleges, including Conestoga College, has concluded after lasting just over a month. However, some Conestoga College students are calling for a refund for the five weeks affected by the strike, during which support services were inaccessible. The strike at Conestoga resulted in various class cancellations and a temporary halt to all in-person activities due to escalated strike actions at the Doon campus in Kitchener.
Numerous students had to adapt to virtual learning and were deprived of on-campus services. In response, a petition was initiated online, garnering over 1,200 signatures by Wednesday morning, with additional signatures still being collected post-strike resolution. Alexis Arch, a pre-health student at Conestoga’s Doon campus, commenced the petition on October 6 to amplify the voices of frustrated students.
Arch emphasized the impact of the strike on students, questioning the value of their tuition without essential support services. While she supports the staff’s right to strike, Arch highlighted the necessity for students to advocate for themselves, especially as they are missing crucial resources. Transitioning to virtual classes presented challenges such as transportation issues for students, particularly those with accessibility needs.
Arch proposed a partial refund ranging from $110 to $220 to compensate for the loss of on-campus support services. Conestoga College acknowledged the petition and the disruption caused by the strike, affirming that decisions regarding refunds, if warranted, would be made by the provincial government rather than individual colleges.
The strike, initiated by college support workers such as librarian technicians and registrar employees on September 11, centered on concerns regarding job security and college funding. The workers are expected to resume duties soon, pending a review and ratification of the new deal in the coming days, as announced by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU).