Picket line outside Loyalist College enters fifth week

There are mixed emotions on the picket line outside Loyalist College today.

For the first time since the full-time support staff strike began on September 11th, the college community was met with increased delays at the picket line yesterday.

OPSEU Local 421 President Tim Prewer says the surprised move yesterday, was a directive from OPSEU Central. He says many local members did not want the escalation, which understandbly resulted in many angry people.

Prewer says that they are not stopping vehicles in and out of the college today, in a good faith gesture and a way to calm tensions.

He says members are giving out treats for those who wish to stop.

Today marks the start of the fifth week of the strike across all of Ontario’s 24 colleges. No new talks between the union and College Employment Council have been scheduled.

OPSEU members at Loyalist are picketing weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Loyalist College remains open and classes are running as scheduled.