"At 17 locals across the province over 10,000 post-secondary educators are voicing their frustration with the current stalemate at local and provincial bargaining tables," said Cindy Oliver, President of the Federation of Post-Secondary Educators. "For more than a year we have been trying to negotiate a new deal for the college and university faculty and staff that we represent and we are being stymied at every turn by local administrators who are unwilling to work with us to resolve local issues," Oliver added.

"The frustration that we see at our local institutions has been building for some time. At many of our locals, strike votes have been taken. At one institution-Vancouver Island University-a strike deadline has been issued. At another institution-Langara College-the local faculty association issued 72-hour strike notice to their employer earlier this week," Oliver noted.

"Local administrators tell us the problem is in Victoria, while the provincial employers' association, the Post-Secondary Employers' Association (PSEA)-tells us the problem is at the local level. This kind of dysfunction only guarantees that the problem is going to get worse, not better," Oliver added.

"Our 10,000 members are rallying today to send a clear message to the employer side of our bargaining tables that stalemate is not an option in this round of bargaining. We want a new deal and we want administrators to commit, in good faith, to find that deal, not invent new excuses for further delay. It's time to get serious about contract talks and give us the room to create a new agreement that both sides can live with. I'm confident today's mobilization is going to break that stalemate," Oliver concluded.