Reposted from the Castanet – Apr 8, 2026
Faculty wins labour ruling
Okanagan College Faculty Association wins grievance over layoffs
The Okanagan College Faculty Association is celebrating a win in a labour dispute over layoffs made by the college last year.
The faculty association filed a grievance in response to the college’s decision to lay off three arts faculty members and change the employment conditions of 14 other faculty members.
OCFA claimed that the college can only lay off its members in circumstances of program redundancy, program reduction or financial exigency.
The college, on the other hand, argued that the layoffs and changes to employment conditions were a necessary exercise of its management rights due to the impact on its budget from a reduction in the federal cap on international students, introduced in early 2024.
After hearing from both sides, BC Labour Relations Board arbitrator Jessica Gregory issued an interim ruling that the college breached the job security provisions of the collective agreement with the OCFA.
“The grievance is upheld. It is so awarded,” she wrote.
Gregory noted that in the 2025-2026 fiscal year, Okanagan College projected an $8.7 million deficit and had to dip into its reserves to balance the books. However, she was not convinced that laying off three faculty members would be the difference between a deficit and a balanced budget.
“This is an historical decision for our members,” said Caroline Gilchrist, president of the Okanagan College Faculty Association.
“This decision is a significant affirmation of the protections we have built together over the past 25 years,” says Gilchrist. “These protections have provided the stability needed to support strong programming and the work we are all proud to do.”
OCFA went on to say the dispute is the latest example of the lack of transparency that led to last year’s vote of no confidence in college president Neil Fassina.
Okanagan College said it respects the arbitrator’s decision and is taking steps to reinstate the three arts faculty positions that were the focus of the ruling by May 1.
