TORONTO - As thousands of Ontario college support workers prepare to return to work following an 18-day strike, students are hoping for a return to normalcy after a rocky start to the school year.

The strike, which caused massive lineups on campuses across the province and forced schools to put some services on hold, ended late Sunday after the workers' union reached a tentative deal with the colleges.

Students were relieved Monday to hear the striking workers would be back at work Tuesday -- and eager to put the whole experience behind them, said Brian Costantini, president of the College Student Alliance.

In some schools, students had worried the strike would stretch long enough to compromise courses, particularly those that rely on technology and IT staff, he said.

But "it never reached D-Day," Costantini said Monday. "I don't think it will have any long-term effects."

Some 8,000 cleaners, food service staff, registration officers and other workers walked off the job just as the school year kicked off Sept. 2.

The colleges remained open during the strike, using management and non-unionized part-time staff. But student groups urged both sides to reach an agreement and put an end to the walkout.

Talks had broken off between the Ontario Public Service Employees Union and the colleges, but negotiators returned to the table over the weekend.

Details of the agreement won't be released until it has been ratified, but the union suggested it includes higher wage increases than the colleges initially offered.

"The details are for a three-year contract with percentage increases of 1.5, 1.75 and 2.0 and the concessions have been removed," OPSEU Local 421 said on its website.

The union had been seeking a three per cent annual wage increase and job protection against the schools' use of part-time and temporary hires.

But OPSEU's bargaining team "substantially modified" its demands to spur negotiations and said it would urge members to support the deal.

A ratification vote should take place within two weeks, though the exact date hasn't been set, the colleges said.

"We were very pleased we were able to reach a negotiated settlement," said Don Sinclair, a member of the colleges' bargaining team.

He said the schools should have "no problem recovering" from the strike.