On January 13, College faculty voted to support a strike mandate. Eighteen of the 24 colleges and 57% of the voters supported the negotiating team. While this is less overall than the last strike mandate, under the circumstances it is a clear vote of support.
The Colleges had stated in the media that they would return to the bargaining table if the faculty voted in favor of a strike mandate. The strike vote has brought management back to the bargaining table starting January 19.
The bargaining team strongly prefers a negotiated settlement, not a strike. If management shares that objective, they will resume negotiations with an honest willingness to reach a deal that implements fully the Task Force recommendations and is fair to both parties. If they do not, then this can only mean that management prefers a disruption to the students’ studies rather than a negotiated settlement.
What will it take to reach a settlement?
- Implement all the recommendations of the Workload Task Force. Trust in college faculty’s abilities and commitment.
- Treat and compensate faculty members as professionals.
- When it comes to evaluation, recognize that proceeding in a collegial manner as recommended by the Task Force better serves the students.
- Provide faculty who have student numbers above the norm with additional time to assist their students.
- The Task Force found that a workload formula works. Honour that finding by providing a formula to Librarians, Counsellors and Partial-load faculty.
- End the undemocratic, disrespectful, and unprofessional imposition of terms and conditions of employment.
The union is hopeful that the employer will work towards a reasonable and responsible settlement. However, faculty must prepare for a strike in the eventuality that an agreement can’t be reached.
We thank faculty for their continued support, and we assure you that we will continue to work towards a negotiated settlement.
|
College |
# eligible |
# valid ballots |
STRIKE |
No Strike |
% in favour |
% turnout |
|
Algonquin |
767 |
554 |
275 |
279 |
49.6 |
73% |
|
Boréal |
124 |
108 |
94 |
14 |
87.0 |
87% |
|
Cambrian |
276 |
231 |
140 |
91 |
60.6 |
84% |
|
Canadore |
185 |
159 |
122 |
37 |
76.7 |
86% |
|
Centennial |
559 |
402 |
282 |
120 |
70.1 |
72% |
|
Conestoga |
520 |
391 |
179 |
212 |
45.8 |
75% |
|
Confederation |
167 |
152 |
103 |
49 |
67.8 |
91% |
|
Durham |
285 |
258 |
144 |
114 |
55.8 |
91% |
|
Fanshawe |
629 |
473 |
194 |
279 |
41.0 |
76% |
|
Fleming |
391 |
241 |
140 |
101 |
58.1 |
62% |
|
George Brown |
687 |
496 |
293 |
203 |
59.1 |
72% |
|
Georgian |
542 |
338 |
160 |
178 |
47.3 |
62% |
|
Humber |
942 |
574 |
248 |
326 |
43.2 |
61% |
|
La Cité |
259 |
189 |
145 |
44 |
76.7 |
73% |
|
Lambton |
164 |
143 |
113 |
30 |
79.0 |
87% |
|
Loyalist |
174 |
144 |
104 |
40 |
72.2 |
83% |
|
Mohawk |
632 |
461 |
253 |
208 |
54.9 |
74% |
|
Niagara |
369 |
277 |
173 |
104 |
62.5 |
75% |
|
Northern |
116 |
100 |
63 |
37 |
63.0 |
88% |
|
Sault |
151 |
121 |
98 |
23 |
81.0 |
80% |
|
Seneca |
1082 |
722 |
396 |
326 |
54.8 |
67% |
|
Sheridan |
654 |
407 |
274 |
133 |
67.3 |
63% |
|
St Clair |
314 |
243 |
138 |
105 |
56.8 |
78% |
|
St Lawrence |
190 |
173 |
65 |
108 |
37.6 |
91% |
|
TOTALS |
10179 |
7357 |
4196 |
3161 |
57% |
75% |
Ontario Public Service Employees Union, 100 Lesmill Road, Toronto, ON M3B 3P8