Support Staff – Skilled Workers who Contribute Significantly to Student Success

As the strike continues, we wanted to take this opportunity as the authors of this blog to share our own thoughts on the work we do for students.

We know students are waiting for the dispute to be resolved so that they can get the support they rely on everyday. It is our hope that students will take time to consider all of the information out there about the strike and the issues from OPSEU and the College Council.

We know this strike is causing significant challenges for you students not only within your academics but also in regards to your personal lives. We regret the impact this strike is having and can only ask for your patience as we continue to fight for an equitable deal. It has been 32 years since our last strike. We would not be on the lines if it was not important for our jobs as well as your future.

It is our hope that you already recognize how important our work is to your success as you go through college and prepare to enter the labour market. We are your student liaisons, financial advisors, career advisors, nurses, disability advisors, IT support, adaptive technologists, facilities, registration officers, admissions liaisons and more. The work we do ensures you select the right courses, are in the right program for your chosen career, find part time work while at school, receive financial aid, receive disability supports, ensures your classrooms are heated/air conditioned, can access IT support for your course work, have somewhere on campus to go when you are ill and more.

Support staff are skilled workers with college diplomas, undergraduate and graduate degrees. Our work for you can be complex with serious implications if not done well – we draw on our significant and varied skill sets everyday. Many of us entered the field because of our belief in the importance of community colleges and the opportunities they can provide. We want to ensure colleges are able to provide you with the best possible support and that means being able to recruit talented and well-trained workers. Colleges will only be able to recruit skilled workers if we are offering full-time work with good wages and benefits that reflect the skills we use everyday to provide superior support for the next generation of Ontario’s skilled workers.

It is our hope that this strike will not only end soon but also improve your chances of being successful in the labour market – providing more opportunities for good jobs with good benefits when you graduate. Please know that we are fighting not just for us – we also fighting for the best services students today and the best jobs for our graduates tomorrow.

OPSEU College Support Staff Member