Community college faculty will be in a legal strike position come the new year.

A no-board report was issued today, meaning the Ontario Public Service of Ontario members would be in a legal strike position in 16 days.

They say there has been no real progress towards a contract.

The two sides will meet again on January 6th and 7th for non-binding mediation.

This after the College Employer Council entered mediation earlier this week with OPSEU, representing full-time and partial-load professors, instructors, and librarians.

At the end of the three days, both parties agreed to extend mediation.

The College Employer Council says it’s shocked by OPSEU’s escalation during mediation.

“A strike at Ontario’s Colleges is wholly unnecessary and causes uncertainty, and disruption for students and faculty in a time of financial instability,” said Graham Lloyd, CEO of CEC.