The Ontario Public Service Employees Union, which represents 10,000 college faculty, has set Feb. 11 as the strike deadline.

A strike would be averted if the College Compensation and Appointments Council, which represents Ontario’s 24 community colleges, agree to the union’s offer of binding arbitration.

At press time, the council was still considering the proposal.

Union negotiators last week, rejected the council’s final offer which included some salary improvements.

Sam Maga, president of OPSEU local 240, which represents about 650 teachers at Mohawk’s Fennell, Stoney Creek, McMaster and Brantford campuses, said arbitration has been used to avoid strikes in the past.

“It’s an effective way for us to resolve the issues,” said Maga, who noted teacher workload and academic freedom are the main unresolved issues in the talks.

The union has been preparing for a possible walkout.

Maga said the local has picked a storefront location on Upper James, which will serve as its strike headquarters and picket captains will be trained next week.

Maga said teachers at Mohawk strongly support arbitration.

Meanwhile, Alan Griffiths, president of the Mohawk Students Association, is advising students to notify their landlords that their leases may have to be extended should a strike lengthen the school year; inform summer employers they may be late to the job and ensure all their classwork is done so they are ready to go when classes resume after the strike ends.