Union leaders say ‘No’ to the latest contract offer from Ontario’s colleges; the colleges are requesting a membership vote anyway.

The offer, rejected last week by the teachers’ union, would provide a raise of 5.9 per cent over three years, whereas the Ontario Public Service Employees’ Union is seeking 7.5 per cent over three years.

The colleges moved quickly Tuesday to ask the Ontario Labour Relations Board to organize a “final offer” vote after the union set a Feb. 11 strike deadline Monday. The union had asked the colleges to turn negotiations over to an arbitrator, a notion colleges rejected Tuesday.

A tentative strike date has been set for Feb. 11th.