For the past month, Durham College full-time support staff, along with their colleagues across the province, have been on strike over issues such as job security and contracting out.
Students say the strike is having an effect on them, especially those who live off campus and have to travel to the school.
People who take the bus say buses drop off students just outside the property line.
“It really slows a lot of things down. I take the bus so it’s not as bad, but it slows a lot of things down,” says Rachel, a student in the Social Service Worker (SSW) program.
People who drive to campus are most affected by the strike. Some report having to wait more than two hours just to get onto the property, and that’s before even trying to find a parking space.
Others, who get a ride to school have to be dropped off somewhere off campus.
“I can’t actually get dropped off at the campus anymore, cause it will just, I’ll be late for class. I know some of my friends wait hours just to even get in,” says Angel from the SSW program.
The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), which represents the striking workers, mandates how long vehicles can be held up by picketers.
“So, right now, because we’ve been out on strike for so long, we’re trying to put the pressure on so that they’ll be, the voices will be heard inside the campus,” says Lee-Ann Strand, a full-time support staff member.
She says they’ve been advised to allow two cars to go through every 30 seconds.
The union sent a new proposal yesterday to the College Employer Council, which represents the 24 public colleges in Ontario. Meanwhile, part-time support staff are preparing for a strike vote next week.