A solidarity rally was held in front of the Loyalist College sign in support of full-time college support staff workers on strike at the college and other colleges across Ontario.
Support workers across the province began a strike looking for job security and better wages.
Several union leaders delivered speeches to the crowd of striking workers and supporters, including the president of the Ontario Federation of Labour, Belleville’s Laura Walton, and the president of the Ontario Public Services Employees Union JP Hornick.
During a fiery speech, Walton took aim at the premier and local MPPs.
“You can 110% agree that I am working for every single worker in Ontario, unlike Doug Ford, unlike Tyler Allsopp, unlike Rick Bresee, unlike David Piccini,” Walton said to the crowd.
“Do you see them here on your picket line? Have they ever been on a picket line? Because here’s a little secret, folks, when you’re working for workers, you work for all workers. You don’t pick and choose the workers that you feel like supporting. You support every single worker every single day, and you make sure that they get that what they need from the boss, not line the pockets of the boss.”
President of the Ontario Federation of Labour, Belleville’s Laura Walton, delivering a fiery speech at a solidarity rally in front of the sign at Loyalist College. September 15, 2025. (Photo: Zach McGibbon/Quinte News)
President of the Ontario Public Services Employees Union JP Hornick put out a call to action to striking members.
“We are not looking at a time to be polite. We are looking at a time where we need to stand together, where we need to escalate, and we need them to feel it in their marrow, how important this is to each and every member of this community,” Hornick said.
“It’s not just about support staff. It’s not just about faculty. It’s not just about students. This is about the soul of Belleville, and it is about the soul of Ontario.”
President of the Ontario Public Services Employees Union, JP Hornick, delivering a speech at a solidarity rally in front of the sign at Loyalist College September 15, 2025. (Photo: Zach McGibbon/Quinte News)
Speaking with media following the rally, president of Local 421 Tim Pruer says there has been no movement on negotiations.
“Nobody has come out to the line and said, ‘Hi, how are you doing?’. Nobody’s doing that. Whereas in past strikes, they have come out and they are concerned with our safety, and they do talk to us regularly to see how things are going.”
You can listen to the full rally below:
