Striking support staff walk the picket lines along outside Algonquin College in Ottawa. Ashley Burke/CBC

Thousands of Ontario college students headed to campus Tuesday amid ongoing picketing by support staff demanding better wages and benefits packages as well as more job security.

All 24 of the province's community colleges welcomed students back from summer holidays in the morning, despite the work action and dispute between the College Employer Council and the Ontario Public Service Employees Union. The rallies caused traffic delays around several Toronto colleges, including Seneca, Humber and Centennial.

There were also delays near Algonquin College in Ottawa.

Greg Hamara, a spokesman for the union, said students and parents would have to bear with the work action by the approximately 8,000 striking union members for now, and asked for patience.

"We anticipate strong pickets at all 24 colleges and more than 100 campuses across the province," he said.

"It is a labour disruption, and it's a legal labour disruption."

The striking employees range from administrators to maintenance and library workers. Among the services they offer are registration, disability support, food preparation and assistance with student loans. The union said it went on strike because the colleges demanded concessions and clawbacks to its existing contract.

The colleges have said the union's proposals for better wages and benefits is unaffordable. No contract talks between the colleges and the union are currently scheduled.

Management and part-time support staff have currently taken over duties to keep things running at colleges.