Conestoga College is telling striking staff they can cross the picket lines and return to work, saying it will foot the bill if the workers' union imposes fines or takes legal action.

CTV News has learned the college sent a letter to support staff walking the picket lines on Tuesday afternoon

While most workers are standing their ground, those on strike tell passersby they would rather be working than on strike.

Administrators say they sent out the letter so workers would know their rights and they could make an informed decision for themselves after they weighed the options.

Greg McVeigh, staff representative for OPSEU, says he was taken aback when he heard about the letter and says Conestoga is the only college that's made that type of offer.

"There are other colleges in the system who've sent out a letter opposite to that, discouraging members from crossing the line and letting our members know that there would be no work for them, and this college is actively soliciting our members back to work."

Conestoga College President John Tibbits, who signed the letter, says the college isn't forcing anyone to do anything.

"They have the legal right if they want to, to come in. We're not asking them to, we're just clarifying what their legal rights are, but there are already a number of people who have come across."

Rod Bemister, chair of the OPSEU college support staff bargaining team, says he can't comment on the type of legal action that is possible.

However, if workers decide to cross, he says it would make it more difficult for people still on the picket lines, and that could cause tension even after the strike is resolved.

"That would be more our concern is that when they return to the workplace, what kind of environment are they going to find themselves in," he tells CTV News in a phone interview.

McVeigh says it's important for support staff to hold the line together until the fight is over, "We're without a contract, so our members shouldn't be working, they should be on strike."

Bemister says they've told the colleges they are ready to go back to the bargaining table any time, any place, to resolve the situation.