*Note: The questions and answers on this page will become updated over the next few days as more information becomes available.

Q: Are we going on strike on Thursday, 9 January?

A: Unknown—notice of a strike simply means that all the legal conditions for a strike have been met. It doesn’t mean a strike is certain.

Please monitor your personal (non-Seneca) email closely. If you’re not getting our emails, see below.

Q: What might happen on 9 January?

A: A full strike involving the full withdrawal of our labour is only one form of job action. Work-to-rule, rotating pickets, information pickets, and various other actions are options. What to do when is up to our elected bargaining team.

It’s also possible that the team may delay job action past 9 January. Please monitor your personal (non-Seneca) email closely. (See Step 4 below. Ensure that you have a personal email address registered with Local 560).

Q: When and how will I get more information?

A: The late afternoons/evenings of 7-8 January will likely be a crucial time. It is especially important to closely monitor your personal email and other channels during this period, as news could come at any time:

Q: How can I subscribe to emails from Local 560?

A: If you’re reading this, you are probably already subscribed, as that’s probably how you got it; however, it’s possible you’ve seen this somewhere else.

If you’re not getting our emails, use the following link to add your personal (non-Seneca) email address to our mailing list: https://mailchi.mp/opseu560/opseu-local-560-mailing-list

Q: How can I subscribe to provincial OPSEU/SEFPO emails?

A: You can sign up for OPSEU/SEFPO provincial emails here: https://opseu.org/sector/college-faculty (Click on “Update Contact Info”)

Q: How do I know whether I’m a signed member of OPSEU/SEFPO?

A: If you have an OPSEU/SEFPO Member Number, you’re a signed member.

If you’re not sure whether you are or not, you can email to ask. However, we may receive a high volume of email, so if you don’t hear back quickly, you can also call OPSEU/SEFPO member services at 1-800-268-7376.

Q: How can I become a signed member of OPSEU/SEFPO?

A: You can complete an online membership form: https://opseu.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/How-to-Submit-Your-Electronic-Membership-Application-May2023.pdf

Q: Will I still get paid on 10 January?

A: Yes, if you’re full time, you should get paid on 10 January even if there is a strike on 9 January. This is money you’ve already earned, as our pay is always two weeks behind the current date.

Partial-load pay works differently, as you know, and we’ll have to check into this further, as any pay deposit will depend on when your teaching hours were scheduled.

Q: What happens if I’m on STD/LTD/Maternity or Parental Leave/PD Leave?

A: Except for LTD (long-term disability), these leaves are benefits deriving from your employment under our collective agreement. During a strike, the CA is suspended, and all employment benefits stop.

For those on maternity/parental leave, the EI-based portion continues. The monetary top-up benefit won in the collective agreement does not.

LTD, meanwhile, is private insurance for which you paid over years of employment. If you are receiving LTD now, that would continue.

If you’re on STD, maternity, parental or professional development leave, you will receive strike pay so long as (a) you perform 20 hours per week of authorized strike duties (usually picketing), or (b) some other form of authorized strike duty.

Note: If we cannot find a form of accommodated strike duty that works for you, you will still receive strike pay, as OPSEU/SEFPO policy doesn’t allow denial of strike pay because appropriate accommodations aren’t possible.

Q: What happens to my benefits?

A: In the past, OPSEU/SEFPO has paid for benefits during a strike to ensure that benefits continue.

The CEC can refuse to let OPSEU/SEFPO do this. If that happens, then OPSEU/SEFPO will offer to cover members through an alternate benefits package.

We will inform you as things happen. You will have benefits coverage, one way or another.

Q: How much is strike pay?

A: There are two types of strike pay:

a) Provincial — from OPSEU/SEFPO head office
b) Local — from Local 560

Provincial strike pay is $250.00 per week for the first three weeks and $350.00 per week beginning in the fourth week.

There is an additional amount paid per dependent. OPSEU/SEFPO defines a dependent as —

  • a non-income-earning spouse (excluding a spouse on strike)
  • a child under 18 (or under 26 if attending school full-time) OR
  • a dependent child as defined by the collective agreement or benefit plan
  • a disabled family member
  • an elderly family member who normally receives financial support from the striking member.

Local strike pay is $350.00 per week plus a $50 transportation subsidy for those travelling to a picket line for the first three weeks of a strike, and $250.00 plus a $50 transportation subsidy for those travelling to a picket line for the fourth week onwards.

Strike pay requires performance of strike duties; note also that strike pay is tax free.

Q: How/when will I receive strike pay?

A: Provincial strike pay is via direct deposit. You will need to sign up for direct deposit on the OPSEU/SEFPO provincial Member Portal:

https://members.opseu.org/

Local strike pay will be via cheque. We will advise about cheque distribution / pick-up and the timing of strike pay in future emails.

Q: How do I sign up for direct deposit from OPSEU/SEFPO for provincial strike pay?

A: Sign up for direct deposit on the OPSEU/SEFPO provincial Member Portal:

https://members.opseu.org/

Q: What do I do if I’m having trouble with the OPSEU/SEFPO Member Portal?

A: Please call OPSEU/SEFPO Member Services at 1-800-268-7376.

This isn’t something we can address locally.

Q: I’m partial load, but my contract doesn’t start until after 9 January. If we go on strike, will I get strike pay?

A: Generally, yes—we will issue strike pay to anyone under contract (or would have been) in the same week in which the strike begins/continues.

Q: How will picketing work?

A: This will be covered in a future communication—please stay tuned.

Q: I require accommodated strike duties. What do I do?

A: This will be covered in a future communication—please stay tuned.

Q: I would like to picket at another college. Can I do that?

A: Probably. Follow the same procedure as in the previous question above, but also include details about your alternative picket location in the body of the email. Alternative picketing requires authorization from both locals.

Q: How do I sign up for the local top-up for my strike pay?

A: This will be covered in a future communication—please stay tuned.