Support staff at Ontario colleges hit the picket lines Thursday morning after last-ditch contract talks failed to reach a deal before a midnight strike deadline.

While the job action will shutter student services and could delay some labs that rely on support staff to operate, faculty are not a part of the job action and classes are expected to go ahead as scheduled.

“Students deserve quality services kept in-house — not contracted out — and done by the support staff who know how to do the job and have institutional knowledge,” the Ontario Public Service Employees’ Union (OPSEU) said in announcing the strike to its 10,000 college members early Thursday.

Outside Humber North College campus, striking staff and supporters, including student workers and faculty members, walked along Humber

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