TORONTO – Members of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU)’s College Support Division will be voting on a tentative extension agreement to the existing collective agreement reached by members of the division’s leadership.
Talks were arranged between the College Employer Council and OPSEU to explore whether a deal was possible. Members of the division’s leadership met with the employer on July 26 and 27, where they received an offer for a four-year contract that would extend the current agreement until August 31, 2022.
Janice Hagan, Chair of the College Support Divisional Executive, described the deal as a means of providing “financial security for our members.”
“A 7.75 per cent wage increase over four years is a significant win in this economic context,” said Hagan. “It also delivers the first of these increases six months before the expiry of the current contract, and it does all this while ensuring absolutely no concessions.”
OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas said the offer comes as the result of “hard work on the part of both parties.”
“I want to congratulate the division’s leadership for their work on achieving this deal,” Thomas said. “In uncertain times, this deal will provide four years of stability to OPSEU members in the College Support division.
“This deal also improves members’ ability to care for their families and loved ones, by including language that will provide members with guaranteed leave when family members are ill.”
For more information: Warren (Smokey) Thomas, 613-329-1931; Janice Hagan, 416-540-9642