College Support Part-Time members gathered in Toronto from October 24-25, 2026 for our Final Demand Set Meeting, setting priorities for this upcoming bargaining round. Delegates from all across Ontario voted on key demands, covering themes such as:
- Job descriptions;
- Wage grids;
- Layoff process;
- Paid sick days;
- Benefits; and
- Strike protections.
Delegates also passed a landmark motion empowering the College Support Part-Time (CAAT-S PT) bargaining team to collaborate with other college units on coordinated bargaining, as well as identifying and fighting for common demands and taking joint actions towards stabilizing the college system.
Over the weekend, a new College Support Part-Time Divisional Executive (DivEx) was elected by their peers, with gratitude shared from the floor for the work of the outgoing Executive. We welcome the new team:
- Courtney Booth (Chair) – Local 243, Niagara College
- Mary Ellen Gibbons (Vice-Chair) – Local 124, Lambton College
- Sue Cowin – Local 416, Algonquin College
- Natalie Williams – Local 245, Sheridan College
- Salah Gouriguer – Local 557, George Brown Polytechnic
On Saturday, October 24th, meeting delegates and solidarity guests joined thousands of education workers and community members at Queen’s Park as part of a province-wide day of action supporting publicly funded education – because we know our fights are one and the same.
On Saturday, October 24th, meeting delegates and solidarity guests joined thousands of education workers and community members at Queen’s Park as part of a province-wide day of action supporting publicly funded education – because we know our fights are one and the same.
Amidst conversations around embracing a “Big, Open Bargaining” model, delegates debated important changes to our divisional negotiation procedures, including:
- Building out a bigger bargaining team, including integrating elected alternates into active bargaining and democratizing decision making;
- Establishing a post-bargaining evaluation and material archiving process.
Together, delegates also initiated a first: the Follett Award. This honorary lifetime achievement award recognizes member leaders who retire or are laid off after going above and beyond for our division. The award comes about in recognition of Doreen Follett, a long-time member sitting on multiple former Divisional Executive and bargaining teams, whose provincial advocacy and years of work building our division deserves to be appreciated.
A huge thank you as well to all the member leaders, OPSEU/SEFPO staff, hotel and technical support staff, and solidarity guests who helped make the weekend possible!
In solidarity,
Your College Support Part-Time Bargaining Team:
Toni Pettit (Chair) – Local 561, Seneca Polytechnic
Harvey Vaters (Vice-Chair) – Local 349, Georgian College
Naomi Cameron (student seat) – Local 245, Sheridan College
Mark Halabecki – Local 731, Confederation College
Torsten Hamelin – Local 556, George Brown Polytechnic
Elizabeth Marculewicz – Local 563, Humber Polytechnic
Duncan McFarlane – Local 416, Algonquin College
