It's very strange.
That's how the Vice President of the Union Local at Niagara College and Member of the Bargaining Team, Ravi Ramkissoonsingh describes seeing empty parking lots at Niagara College's two campuses at a time of year when the two should be bustling hubs of activity.
This is the 4th time faculty at Ontario's college have gone on strike in 50 years.
The strike, now into it's second day impacts 12,000 faculty members and 500,000 students across Ontario.
Ramkissoonsingh joined CKTB today from the picket lines saying they are not striking for more money, they are striking to improve the education system for students.
He says many faculty members are contract workers who are making an average of $30,000 for full-time work with little or no benefits.
He is hoping to get back to the bargaining table at some point this week and put an end to the strike.
Picket lines are up at both the Niagara-on-the-Lake and Welland campuses.
Ramkissoonsingh says picketing members are getting paid around $550 dollars a week.
He says OPSEU is providing members with $250/week picket pay, while the union local contingency fund is topping strike pay by another $305/week.
Those funds are only available to unionized full-time facility and partial load faculty members who teach between 7-12 hours a week.
The members must also be on the picket lines 20 hours a week.
451 Niagara College Faculty members are impacted by the strike along with thousands of students.
Niagara College is offering advice and information to students during the strike. CLICK HERE for more information.