The union for Ontario's college support staff warned Saturday that the start of the school year is in jeopardy as its members could strike in September.

The start of the school for Ontario colleges is in jeopardy as the contract for support staff expires Aug. 31. ((Canadian Press))

More than 8,000 workers, represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), have been in contract talks since June, but the union said "there has been no meaningful dialogue from negotiators representing management."

The union's latest contract expires Aug. 31, placing the members in a legal position to walk off the job on Sept. 1.

OPSEU maintains that management is "avoiding serious negotiations until the deadline is reached."

"Students should be very aware that the start of the school year will be jeopardized as long as college management refuses to negotiate seriously," Rod Bemister, chairman of the bargaining team for OPSEU, said in a release.

"We urge all students to contact their college president today and demand that a deal gets negotiated as soon as possible."

Both sides are set to return to the bargaining table on Aug. 23, but Bemister is not confident much progress will be made.

"Our bargaining team is still committed to negotiating a fair and equitable collective agreement," he said. "However, given the very limited progress we have made to date, we are not optimistic that an agreement can be reached in time."