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Safety concerns raised on the picket line at Loyalist College in Belleville

/ 91X FM CJLX
Lindsey Harren
Sep 23, 2025 | 10:19 AM


Safety concerns raised on the picket line at Loyalist College in Belleville

NewAfrica / Depositphotos.com

It is day 12 of a full-time support staff strike across all of Ontario’s 24 Colleges.

Support staff, represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, kicked in their strike mandate on September 11th, after a new agreement could not be reached with the College Employer Council.

On the picket line at Loyalist College this morning, OPSEU Local 421 president Tim Prewer said that they have safety concerns after the College’s property line was confirmed last week, and the legal picket line was adjusted.

He added that members have room for one vehicle to stop heading into the College, rather than up to three last week.

OPSEU and the Loyalist College management team continue to talk about a strike protocol agreement, which is not in place. Prewer would not comment about specifics, but noted that they are not in a position to sign off.

 

Listen to the full interview with Prewer below.

 

 

Loyalist College issued the following statement to 91X.

“To help address misinformation circulating in the community regarding the ongoing Full-Time Support Staff strike and related picketing activity, Loyalist College is sharing the most recent Strike Engagement Guidelines that have been proposed to OPSEU. To date, the union has not agreed to these guidelines. 
Strike engagement guidelines, sometimes called strike protocols, have historically been established and agreed to at Ontario colleges, including Loyalist, during labour disruptions. They are designed to prioritize safety, ensure access to campus, and set clear expectations for respectful behaviour on picket lines. They also cover essentials such as allowing emergency vehicles through and having a process to quickly resolve issues. In short, they protect the rights of striking workers, support the college’s ability to operate, and keep the campus community safe and respected. 
There has also been confusion about picketing on Loyalist property. To clarify, Loyalist has proposed guidelines that would allow safe, designated areas for picketing on campus. Because no agreement is in place, picketing on college property is not permitted, and the boundary line was marked simply to provide clarity for everyone. This is standard practice during labour disruptions to ensure that expectations are clear and consistent. 
One of the goals of these guidelines is to create the conditions that could support Belleville Transit buses returning safely to campus. If successful, this would help reduce the current risks for students and employees who must cross Wallbridge-Loyalist Rd., a busy arterial route without crosswalks. 
Strike Engagement Guidelines (Proposed by Loyalist College) 
College Commitments 
  • Permit striking staff to use up to 60 parking spaces in Lot P8. 
  • Allow the Union to place portable toilets and a trailer in Parking Lot P8. 
  • Designate a specific area on campus property for picketing. 
  • Restrict access to Parking Lots P1 to direct most traffic through the main entrance. 
  • Enforce parking rules in Lot P1, limiting access to the following authorized vehicles: 
    • Students living in residence (with a valid pass) 
    • Emergency and security vehicles 
    • Public transit to facilitate safe and accessible access to campus from Pioneer Building 
    • Trenval and QEDC staff (with a valid pass) 
    • Clients coming to Community Employment Services (CES) at Pioneer Building 
  • For the purposes of picketing at the Bancroft Campus, striking staff are able to park in a designated portion of the front parking lot from the north side of the front entrance sidewalk to the north side of the front parking lot. 
 
Union Commitments 
  • Local 421 will maintain a Commercial General Liability Insurance Policy with a minimum of $5 million coverage. The College will be named as an additional insured. 
  • Local 421 will provide proof of insurance and indemnify the College against any claims related to picketing activities. 
  • Delay vehicles only at North Entrance, at the designated spot west of the traffic circle. 
  • Local 421 will exercise its discretion in delaying vehicles but no more than 5 minutes per vehicle to ensure safety. 
  • Ensure delays do not cause traffic to back up onto Wallbridge-Loyalist Road. 
  • Avoid blocking access to the campus or physically preventing entry. 
  • Keep the designated picketing areas clean and safe daily. 
  • Remove all equipment (trailer, portable toilets) within 5 business days after the strike ends. 
 
Additional Agreements 
  • Picket lines allow access for emergency vehicles without delay. 
  • Local 421 may picket up to the entrance to P1 if access restrictions are not effective. 
  • Local 421 may picket on the north side of the front parking lot at the Bancroft Campus. 
  • Union Picket Coordinator (wearing a safety vest) will oversee picket line conduct and coordination.  
  • Union will notify the College in advance of any external organizations joining picketing. 
  • The parties will continue to discuss issues through direct communication between the College President and the Union President and their designees. 
  • No alcohol, illegal substances, impairment or open flames while picketing. 
Loyalist College remains ready to finalize an agreement with OPSEU without delay. Loyalist respects the union’s right to strike and are committed to working together constructively. Until a protocol is in place, however, the safety and well-being of students, employees and picketers remain at risk.”

 

Loyalist College remains open and classes are running as scheduled. Roughly 130 full-time support-staff at Loyalist are on the picket line weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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