September 11 2025

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is in solidarity with the 10,000 striking college workers who are members of our component union, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union / Syndicat des employés de la fonction publique de l’Ontario (OPSEU/SEFPO). 

OPSEU/SEFPO members are not only fighting for fair working conditions and students’ learning conditions—they are standing up for the future of public education. 

Ontario’s college system is in jeopardy due to governments’ chronic underfunding. Mass layoffs, program closures, and privatization are threatening the existence of the public college system. 

In recent years, the Ford government has copied a failed model that was used in Australia, gutting public funding to colleges and siphoning money to private training centres through the Skills Development Fund. Australia’s experience, which saw numerous colleges close and rural communities hit particularly hard, should provide a cautionary tale for Ontario. 

OPSEU/SEFPO research shows that the Ford government has increased spending on private training by 800% since 2020 while only covering 25% of college operating expenses, lagging far behind other provinces. 

“It’s long overdue that the Ontario government restore fair and sustainable funding for public colleges,” said Bert Blundon, NUPGE President.  

Public colleges are a vital part of vibrant communities and a strong economy. They support knowledge and skills development, train local workers, and support key industries like manufacturing, health care, and hospitality. “In the face of economic uncertainty, political instability, and a worsening climate crisis, a strong college system is more important than ever to a resilient economy,” said Blundon. 

The 10,000 college support workers represented by OPSEU/SEFPO perform a wide range of roles that keep Ontario’s colleges running and provide critical support to students. 

“OPSEU/SEFPO college workers deserve job security and fair benefits,” said Blundon, “and we join them in their fight for the future of public education.” 

 “My message to OPSEU/SEFPO members is: know that you have the full support and strength of 450,000 NUPGE members behind you as you take on this fight.” 

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