NEWS RELEASE
COLLEGE EMPLOYER COUNCIL
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OPSEU has stonewalled the bargaining process and refused to accept an offer that addresses their priorities. “OPSEU’s insistence on continuing the strike is a terrible outcome for students and faculty,” said Sonia Del Missier, chair, Colleges’ Bargaining Team.
“We addressed all faculty priorities and the offer that is available for faculty right now – on the table – should have ended this strike.” The colleges listened to the union and addressed its priorities with solutions on:
- Enhancing full-time employment opportunities for contract faculty
- Increasing pay
- Greater rights for contract faculty
- Better job security for contract faculty
- Academic freedom guarantees, and
- Faster compliance with Bill 148
Furthermore, the government has agreed to establish a task force on the future of Ontario colleges that will look at various issues, including staffing models and the issue of precarious work. Faculty Vote to Be Scheduled Ontario colleges announced today that they have asked the Ontario Labour Relations Board to schedule a vote on the colleges’ offer.
“We need to end this strike and get students back in the classroom. We have asked the Labour Board to schedule a vote and let our faculty decide,” said Ms. Del Missier. The colleges have requested that the strike be suspended.
This will allow faculty and students to return to class, while the vote is being organized. Suspending the strike will also allow voting at college campus locations so that the largest number of faculty are able to exercise their right to vote.
What happens next? The Labour Board will determine the vote date. It is expected that the vote will take between five and ten days to organize. This length of time is why the union should suspend the strike and not harm students with another lost week of studies.
“An employer vote is never a preferred path, because a settlement should be reached at the bargaining table. But we have exhausted all efforts at the bargaining table and now our faculty will decide,” said Ms. Del Missier.
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