Details have been announced involving the arbitrator’s award after the five-week faculty strike at Ontario’s colleges, including Canadore, this fall.

The colleges say they’re pleased, pointing out academic freedom policies that exist at most colleges are being continued while the same percentage salary increase the colleges tabled before the strike started have been awarded.

That increase is 7.75 per cent over four years.

“We are very happy to have our students back in class completing their studies,” said George Burton, president and CEO of Canadore College. “Canadore is also extremely proud of the collective efforts put forth by our faculty and staff to reduce our students’ stress levels after this difficult time.”

Following provincial back-to-work legislation, classes resumed a month ago.

In a release, OPSEU says the arbitration award could have been reached at the bargaining table, without the five-week strike, if the employer showed concern for students and staff during the talks.

The union says the arbitrator’s award includes contract language on “academic freedom” that will now allow faculty to speak freely about academic issues without fear of reprisal.

They also say it includes improved job security for partial-load and full-time faculty and a new government-run task force that will make recommendations on faculty complement, precarious work, college funding, student success, and governance issues.

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