Ontario Labour Board releases schedule for college part-timers’ vote

“To every part-time support staff worker in every college, I say, ‘It’s taken half a century to make this vote happen. Don’t let this opportunity pass you by.’” — Warren (Smokey) Thomas, OPSEU President

Toronto (17 June 2016) — The Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) has released the times and dates for an upcoming union representation vote for thousands of part-time support staff at Ontario’s 24 community colleges.

The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE) has posted the vote schedule on its polling locations webpage. It is also posted on the collegeworkers.org webpage.

Vote to take place from June 20 to June 30

In a June 13 ruling, the OLRB ordered that the vote take place from June 20 to 30. The vote applies to all part-time support staff who worked for a college during the 2015-16 academic year, as well as those who had an “employment relationship” with a college on May 31, 2016.

OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas strongly encouraged all part-time college support staff to cast a ballot and become members of his 130,000-strong union.

After half a century, part-time college workers vote to join union

“This vote gives part-time college support staff the chance to make their voices heard on issues that matter to them, in the workplace and beyond,” said Thomas. “They have a chance to say YES to real, meaningful change for themselves, for their families, and for future generations of college workers.

“To every part-time support staff worker in every college, I say, ‘It’s taken half a century to make this vote happen. Don’t let this opportunity pass you by.’”

Part-time college support staff may vote at any college in the province.

NUPGE

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 360,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE