A union representing faculty at Ontario colleges has requested a potential strike vote be held on the first day of the fall school term as talks between the two sides head down to the wire.

The Ontario Public Service Employees Union says it has asked the Ontario Labour Relations Board to hold a strike vote on Sept. 6, though discussions with the colleges' bargaining team are ongoing.

The union says it hopes the strike vote request will get the schools to ``start negotiating more seriously.''

The collective agreement with the union, representing 10,000 faculty and college staff, expires at the end of this month.

A provincial conciliator has been appointed to help push the talks forward.

A ``no board'' report would have to be granted by the labour board followed by a 17-day period before a legal strike or lockout could occur.

``The colleges are running out of time,'' faculty bargaining co-chair Carolyn Gaunt said in a release.

(Canadian Press)