Support staff at Ontario's 24 community colleges ratified a new collective agreement today, averting a strike by more than 6,000 members of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union.

Vocational instructors at Okanagan College have voted in favour of accepting a new three-year contract that provides for a wage increase and other measures that allow instructors to convert seldom-used benefits into a commensurate pay increase.

The provincial government discriminates against union workers trying to negotiate a collective agreement, the BCGEU charged today. The union released its Top Ten List of college administrators’ pay increases, and announced that rotating job action will move to Kwantlen University College on Friday.

The B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union stepped up pressure on the provincial government to lift its wage freeze, announcing today that rotating job action will close all BCIT campuses on Monday.

The BCGEU announced today that Okanagan University College will join rotating strike action, with picket lines being set up at campuses on Tuesday to support the union’s attempt to negotiate a fair settlement for its members.

Mental health employee had only two shifts remaining before he was scheduled to retire.

Unionized support staff at eight campuses of Northern Lights College in communities spread across northeastern B.C. have voted 90 per cent in favour of strike action to back up demands for a fair contract settlement.

Bargaining to renew the Common Agreement adjourned on December 2. Members of the joint union negotiating committee now head home to consult with members. Many local unions are seeking local bargaining dates in December and January.

All workers in England who do not have basic qualifications or skills will be offered extra training, the Chancellor has announced. He announced that a pilot scheme to encourage firms to release staff for training was to be extended nationally.

A new study commissioned by college and university students, faculty and staff addresses key funding, student assistance and accessibility issues under consideration by the PSE Review led by former Premier Bob Rae.

About 130 members of the BCGEU will be holding a strike vote this week after contract talks covering support staff who work at the eight campuses of Northern Lights College throughout northern B.C. broke down last Friday in Fort St. John.

Professors at 18 CEGEPs, including Vanier and Dawson, are off the job for the morning of Thursday, November 25, 2004 to protest the Charest government's plan to overhaul CEGEPs.

One would expect a government led by the NDP to invest in education – whether it is in early childhood or K-S4 or Post-Secondary. In many areas, this government has taken positive steps forward.

OPSEU members from the College Academic, College Support and Universities Sectors met with Bob Rae to present a submission on the future of post-secondary funding and quality. Read OPSEU president Leah Casselman's remarks.

The fourth week of bargaining to renew the Common Agreement for more than 6,600 post-secondary educators and employers in B.C. focused on educational technology, international education, health and welfare benefits and leaves.