Layoff Resources

Our heart goes out to those members who have lost their jobs. Local 237 encourages you to focus on your own well-being during this difficult time.

If you need assistance, the College Employee Assistance Program offered by Homewood Health is available to all employees of Conestoga College, including those who have just received layoff notices. You can contact the helpline 24 hours 7 days a week at 1-800-663-1142 to request confidential counselling. Information about their services can be found at: https://homewoodhealth.com/

We have provided the information below

to help you fight to get your job back.

I've been laid off...
What does this mean?

Notice of Layoff

You have been informed that you have been laid off from the college.

Action: Complete the term as you normally would and then stop working. No onboarding, no curriculum development etc.

Non-Working

Retraining Period

This is a 90 day period where you receive your paycheque, have access to benefits, pay into your pension and have access to retraining fund assistance (JESRF).

Severance

OR Recall

You choose to take severance OR pass on severance in exchange for remaining on the recall list for 2 years

You have to choose

one or the other

Layoff

(After 90 days)

March 16th, 2026

You are no longer an employee of the college.

What can I do?

Step 1:

Download and complete

3 documents:

1. OPSEU Layoff Grievance Form

2. Layoff Report Template

3. Letter of Understanding (LOU) email request template

Step 2:

Complete Information & upload Forms from Step 1 along with your updated resume

Layoff Grievance Dropbox

Local 237 rep will follow up with you

Step 3:

Email HR and Carolyn Galvin Requesting a meeting:

All members who received a layoff notice are entitled to a meeting anytime during the 90-day retraining period. HR will need to respond within 3 calendar days to this request “to discuss the basis of the College selection of the employees affected”. (Section 27.05 vii of the Collective Agreement).

Step 3:

Local 237 strongly encourages all members who have received a layoff notice to request such a meeting immediately. The information learned in the meeting can help support your grievance and, if necessary, arbitration case.

Email to Send

To: HR - hrinfo@conestogac.on.ca

CC:

Carolyn Galvin cgalvin@conestogac.on.ca

Local237 letterbox237@gmail.com

Your chair: (college email)

Subject: 27.05 Vii Meeting Request

Dear HR and Carolyn Galvin,

Please accept this email as my request to discuss the basis on which Conestoga College used to select me as a faculty member to be laid off. I am making this request pursuant to Section 27.05 (vii) of the collective agreement.

I respectfully request that the meeting be scheduled within the next three days at a mutually agreeable time during normal business hours.

Please reply to me and to letterbox237@gmail.com when scheduling this meeting so that a union representative can attend the meeting to provide me with support and assistance.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Consider attending the Town Hall this week: December 18, 2025 from 4:00 - 6:00pm

Location: Waterloo Regional Police Association Hall,

1128 Rife Road, Cambridge

This Town Hall is for all Local 237 members

We will have guest speakers from OPSEU, our Local, along with guides in the room to help with counselling supports available, financial planning and other topics. All information available on our current mutual status will be shared, along with an opportunity to ask your questions. All common key questions will be collected and shared in an update following the meeting.

Counselling: Access to professional counsellors who can help individuals process their grief. Counselling can help individuals understand their emotions, find healthy coping mechanisms, and work through the stages of grief. It offers confidential support so individuals can discuss their feelings and experiences in a safe, non-judgemental space.

First Call Care Can provide individuals with same day support, either immediately with a warm transfer, or with a same day call back from a licensed clinician.

Coaching:

Grief and Loss Coaching: Homewood's Grief and Loss program can help individuals to understand the grieving process by providing you with coaching support and resources, which in turn can help individuals to manage the range of emotions and difficulties that they may experience when faced with significant loss.

Career Coaching: Homewood's Career Coaching will work with you to identify your values, skills, interests and strengths, aligning your career plan with your goals.

Financial Coaching: Homewood's Financial Coaching will allow you to work with a Financial Advisory who can help you gain control of your money.

E-Course:

Taking Control of Job Loss and Transition https://homeweb.ca/app/en/resources/564a397114365c9758f6f877

Articles:

Facing a Job Loss: https://homeweb.ca/app/en/resources/56265cf6137ee6035b6dc719

How to Deal With Job Loss: https://homeweb.ca/app/en/resources/56253ba1c2ebc0d51179edb0

Coping With Dismissals in The Workplace https://homeweb.ca/app/en/resources/6335b18ef02ea672366512e8

Experiencing a Job Loss

Your Employee and Family Assistance Program

Experiencing a Job Loss

Financial Coaching

Grief & Loss Coaching