The Ontario labour relations board has scheduled a college faculty vote for next week.
About 12,000 college faculty members have been on strike since mid-October. On Monday, the college council asked for the board to schedule a forced vote on its latest offer, a move the union called "mean-spirited."
The board says the vote will take place between November 14 and 16, via electronic ballot, to ensure the maximum number of faculty can exercise their right.
The employer council representing the province's 24 colleges has released a statement.
"We are still over a week away from the vote results being known and we again request that the strike be suspended for the sake of 500,000 students. The suspension will allow faculty and students to return to class and not lose another week of classes," said Sonia Del Missier, Chair, Colleges’ Bargaining Team.
The union has said it will not suspend its job action until the employer comes back with an offer they can recommend to their members. Union officials have asked their members to reject the latest offer that will be voted on next week.