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Faculty members at Ontario's 24 community colleges taking strike vote on Jan. 13.
Toronto (8 Jan. 2010) - The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE) is urging the Ontario's 9,000 community college teachers to vote strongly in favour of strike action to strengthen their hand at the bargaining table when they cast ballots across the province on Jan. 13.
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is throwing its full support behind the teachers, who are employed by Ontario's 24 Community Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology (CAAT).
The teachers are represented by OPSEU, the largest single Component within NUPGE's national union membership of 340,000 trade unionists. They are members of OPSEU's CAAT-Academic Division.
OPSEU has released a list of reasons why it is in the interest of the teachers to vote in favour of taking strike action if it becomes necessary to do so.
Why Vote Yes?
- A strike mandate is the only way to end the unilateral imposition of working terms by management.
- A strike mandate is the only way to compel management to negotiate a settlement.
- A strike mandate is the only way to get rid of the imposed concessions.
- A strike mandate is the only way to achieve the recommendations of the workload task force and to improve quality.
- A strike mandate will pressure the minister of training, colleges and universities to get involved.
- A strike mandate shows that you believe quality education is worth it.
- A strike mandate means you believe in a negotiated contract, not in imposed terms and conditions.
OPSEU has also released a list of specific answers to questions commonly being asked about the strike vote.
Consequences of a No vote
- Q: Does a No vote prevent a lock out?
A: No. Management’s right to a lock out is not changed by a strike vote. - Q: Does a No vote mean that the terms and conditions of employment become a contract?
A: No. They could still change their terms and conditions of employment any time. It is not a binding contract. - Q: Would a No vote mean that teachers have job security?
A: No. Only management’s imposed terms and conditions of employment apply. Anything, including job security language, could be changed or removed. There is no negotiated collective agreement to protect teachers. - Q: Will a No vote help the bargaining team to reach a settlement faster?
A: Definitely not. Quite the contrary. Settlement will become that much more difficult. The management imposed terms and conditions will not be ratified and will last even longer.
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 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
More information:
• NUPGE strongly backs Ontario college teachers
• College faculty calls vote after management walks