Support workers at 24 community colleges in Ontario today endorsed a tentative contract settlement reached last month with management.
The workers, represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, voted 87 per cent in favour of the tentative deal which was reached Sept. 18 following an 18-day strike.
“By the results of this vote our members have wholeheartedly said they approve the deal their negotiating team reached at the contract table,” said OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas. “The members said all along they wanted a good deal and today they delivered their stamp of approval.”
Rod Bemister, chair of OPSEU’s bargaining team on behalf of 8,000 full-time college support workers, said the vote demonstrated that members were determined to maintain good jobs.
“Our members enjoy their work, but they weren’t prepared to give up provisions in their contract that have taken many rounds of negotiations to achieve,” said Bemister. “I’m pleased to say that we have maintained the strength of our contract and, in fact, have built on it.”
For more information:
Rod Bemister Chair
OPSEU College Support Staff Bargaining Team
416-779-0669
Greg Hamara
OPSEU Communications
416-443-8888 ext 8777 office
647-238-9933