John Abbott College professors denounce toxic work environment
Posted August 18, 2026 10:31 am.
Last Updated August 18, 2026 2:27 pm.
On Tuesday morning, teachers at West-Island-based John Abbott College, gathered outside the school to protest what they say has been a toxic work environment for months.
They were also joined by teachers’ delegations from other CEGEPs, who came to support them and put pressure on college management to settle the many disputes in good faith and clean up labour relations.
As the start of the school year officially begins, Maria Mastorakos, president of the John Abbott College Faculty Association (JACFA-CSN), lamented what she described as a toxic situation.
“A cloud hangs over the start of the 2026 school year,” she stated, in a press release, “while we are bogged down in an execrable work climate. No person has been dedicated full-time to the Human Resources Department since last January. And unjustified attacks on our members who sit on governance bodies are multiplying, undermining academic freedom and collegiality in the institution. It is the commitment and dedication of the faculty that is beginning to be undermined by conflicts, to the detriment of the student population.”
In a recent document obtained by the union through the Access to Information Act, when the College’s management asked workers to describe the culture at John Abbott, some of the words used by staff were “toxic,” “tense,” and “dysfunctional.”
“After months of tension that are rotting the climate, after union calls for dialogue, it is time for the Minister of Higher Education to give the College the means to pacify its labour relations and raise awareness among management,” said Yves de Repentigny, vice-president responsible for the CEGEP group at the Fédération nationale des enseignantes et des enseignants du Québec (FNEEQ-CSN), which speaks on behalf of 85% of CEGEP teachers and 80% of lecturers in Quebec universities.
John Abbott College told CityNews in a statement:
“Our focus remains on advancing initiatives that support the wellness and success of both students and employees. Many of these initiatives are developed and implemented in collaboration with student and employee groups, reflecting our ongoing commitment to engagement, inclusion, and continuous improvement.
With respect to some ongoing employee disagreements, the College recognizes the importance of addressing concerns through the established processes outlined in the collective agreements. Grievances are being addressed through the appropriate channels and formal mechanisms that exist to ensure fairness and due process for all parties involved.We regularly survey employees and use their input to help inform institutional practices, priorities, and decision making. Results from these surveys consistently demonstrate rates above 90 per cent of satisfaction among employees working at John Abbott College.”
The college reiterated that they takes employee feedback seriously and remains committed to listening to and learning from its workforce.
