A key strike vote that could put thousands of college students out of the classroom will take place on Wednesday.
Workload issues and pay are the main sticking points, with professors looking for a 20 per cent increase in paid time to prepare for classes.
If the strike vote passes, teachers would be in a position to strike on Jan. 18.
A strike would affect students at Algonquin College in Ottawa, Perth and Pembroke; La Cite Collegiale in Ottawa; Loyalist College in Belleville; and St. Lawrence College in Cornwall, Brockville and Kingston.
Students have already launched online protests, demanding the two sides reach a deal soon.
The Ontario Public Service Employees Union represents about 9,000 faculty and staff at 24 colleges across the province.
The union's last strike in 2006 shut down campuses for 21 days. It's estimated 200,000 students would be affected by a strike this time around.
With files from The Canadian Press
