Latest News: March 10, 2006
OPSEU has posted a transcript of Ted Montgomery's press conference. He explains a number of issues the strike is addressing as well as some of the media coverage of the past few days.
March 10, 2006
The Globe and Mail reports that OPSEU is filing a 'bad faith charge' against the Colleges. Specifically:
on March 6 in the final hour of negotiations, having tabled nothing to five days of bargaining, the management bargaining team tabled a position at that crucial stage that was an offer that they knew could not lead and would not lead to settlement," Ted Montgomery, lead negotiator for the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, told a press conference in Toronto on Friday.
OPSEU has a issued press release on their website. And here is the announcement.
March 9, 2006
We now have photos from James Cullin and Mary Elliott.
March 9, 2006
Rally on March 16 at Queen's Park
There will be a rally for striking college faculty at Queen's Park on Thursday March 16. Buses are being booked to bring faculty from colleges all over Ontario. Provincial organizers plan to the rally at 11 am and have it over by 2:30. We’ll get full details of Local 562 plans for buses, etc. in the next couple of days
We believe that this event has the power to pressure the government and rally the members who attend. If it is anything like the rallies in 1984 and 1989, it is the event to attend.
More details to follow.
March 9, 2006
Ted Montgomery has provided a memo on the strike's media coverage. Overall, we have fared reasonably well considering that the workers are usually blamed for the strike. Our main message is:
"We have constantly pointed out – and it has been picked up on radio and TV – that we are seeking the implementation of the Rae Report findings as they pertain to quality and to student/teacher interaction. Faculty demands also highlight the critical support of other educational professionals – counsellors and librarians. Give students more quality contact time with their teachers. Rae, without overtly taking sides, has re-endorsed that goal. "
The full memo is available here (Word file 36kb.)
March 9, 2006
The latest issue of our newsletter, "On the Line" is now available (PDF file 96kb). Contributions are always welcome and needed.
March 9, 2006
Hello All:
Attached (Word file 184kb) you will find the latest tabled position of the faculty
There are 2 options for workload -- as well as some workload proposals that apply to both options.
I have added commentary so that the Articles make sense.
From all reports around the province, the strike is going extremely well. Faculty remain solidly behind the issues and the efforts. ACAATO is certainly pumping out as much disinformation as they can but in Toronto the media has definitely swung to our side more than management's. Our local is conducting a web research project to measure the media leanings. We'll send that out probably in one of our newsletters.
We have not heard from management but certainly the noises being generated around the province are pressuring the government and colleges to act.
You may have heard or seen Rick Miner, the Seneca President front and center. I can tell you this is the most anyone at Seneca has seen of him in over 3 years! Our faculty are livid that a president who has done nothing to improve the quality of education at Seneca, who is rarely seen by faculty who constantly talks of making Seneca "The National College" (whatever that is!!) is suddenly an expert. Miner spent the week prior to the strike on vacation in Cuba! Bad timing, bad judgement, completely out of touch with college faculty. It is no surprise to us that the invisible president has not got a clue about the daily realities of college education.
The team will keep you posted on any developments.
Thanks from the team to everyone for your continued and deeply appreciated support. We did our very best to move management to a settlement but they never had the interest or the ability to even negotiate in that direction.
Ted Montgomery, for the team
March 8, 2006
Maureen was on the tube tonight.
<http://www.tvo.org/discussion/phpBB2/index.php>
If members want to comment there is a thread on this discussion forum about the strike. There are several attacks on faculty and some criticism of the host. It might be a good place to voice your opinion.
(I will be receiving a transcript in the next 24 hours so those who missed the show can see what was said. A great job my Maureen Wall in representing faculty!)
In solidarity,
David Cox
Communications Officer
March 8, 2006
CTV has a report on the strike including their video coverage.
March 8, 2006
James Cullin has shared the weblog (called: "Woes of a Student") of one of his students. It is worth looking at.
March 8, 2006
New photos of the picket at the Lakeshore Campus are available.
March 7, 2006
The CBC reports that Dalton McGuinty will not intervene in the strike.
March 7, 2006
Share your strike experience! We have our own strike page: send in your words and your pictures and we will put them up here.
March 7, 2006
OPSEU's website has an "All Strike Information" page. Included is a daily weblog.
March 7, 2006
There is no settlement.
The strike has begun.
Over five days of negotiations, management did not table a proposal until 9:30 p.m. Monday, March 6th. Incredibly, that last-minute proposal moves backwards from the offer that management had in place at the time of the strike vote.On December 15 2005, management withdrew a position to delete the limit on sections from the Workload Formula. That limit is currently six.
In the offer tabled this evening – the only offered tabled by management since December 2005 – they have re-introduced the deletion of the limit on sections.
The management team’s complete failure to bargain in good faith is shocking and deplorable. Management has wasted five days and never put an offer on the table until the last minute.
Not one of the issues of quality has been addressed in their offer. They still have averaging in their offer. They still have pilot projects. The salary offer has not changed at all, not a penny.
There can be no doubt that Ms Warkentin and her committee never intended to settle but were aiming at strike all the time. It is a colossal affront to all faculty and to students. To use college faculty and students as poker chips in a gamble to wrest more money from the government is unconscionable. Management knew that the offer they had on the table produced the over 80% strike vote. To put zero effort into advancing a better offer can only be seen as a plan to produce a strike. Now, regrettably, they have that strike. The issue of quality has been ignored by management. Faculty will continue to press for quality. We will not abandon this important issue.
Ted Montgomery, for the negotiating team
March 6, 2006
Hello All:
The team received a request to comment on how late it might be that locals receive any news that there might be a settlement.
As you know, there is a media blackout, so the team cannot report on negotiations in any way. Do not read anything into this. It is in no way a positive or a negative sign. Such a blackout is nearly always imposed no matter what (if anything) is happening.
Unless you hear to the contrary from the team, assume that the strike will begin as scheduled, 12:01 a.m. March 7th. As soon as we can report, the team will do so whether it is regarding a settlement or a end to talks. We would be able to call off the strike as late as 10:00 p.m. March 6th. If that were to happen and some locals were unable to contact every member, that would be understandable and not a problem. Your planning should be based on not anticipating such a call. If you hear nothing from the team, or read a report on the OPSEU website, the strike is on.
Ted Montgomery, for the team.
March 4, 2006
Hello All Full-Time and Partial Load Faculty,
No news yet (as I write this on Saturday afternoon). I'll send out an email if I hear anything definite before Monday late afternoon. In the meantime, however, I want to send a few final pieces of information that you will need if there is no settlement before midnight on March 6th. When you leave on March 6th, you should take with you anything that you may need because college facilities will be off-limits in the event of a strike beginning the morning of March 7.
If there is no settlement before the deadline:
- Picket lines will assemble at Lakeshore and North campuses on Tuesday morning. Anyone who has not yet registered should come to the picket line and check in with one of the Picket Captains (identified by the reflective vest he or she will be wearing). The normal picket shift will be 4 hours per day.
- Parking is available in lot 5 at the North Campus.
- All academic work must stop, including on-line, Web CT, off-site placements. All day classes at Humber and Guelph-Humber will be suspended for the duration of the strike.
- College facilities will be off-limits to academic bargaining unit members. I suggest setting the auto-reply on First Class and a special message on voice mail.
Of course, with all of you, I am still hoping for a settlement, but we must be prepared as the deadline looms.
Yours,
Maureen Wall
OPSEU Local 562 President
March 2, 2006
Today and tomorrow meetings have been scheduled between the faculty union and the management bargaining team. As news is announced we will keep you informed.
If you have questions from students we have prepared this document to help you answer them.
In the event of a strike our strike offices will be located at:
Main Strike Headquarters:
Unit 16 - 106 Humber College Blvd
Hwy 27 Plaza - East end – facing Medical Arts Building
Phone: 416-746-7081
Fax: 416-746-9405
Lakeshore Headquarters:
3230 Lakeshore Blvd. W.
(basement of the Write One Print Shop – across the street from the Greek Texan restaurant)
February 16, 2006
To All Full-Time and Partial Load Faculty,
Negotiations on February 15 & 16 have not resulted in any progress on our issues. Here is a memo from Ted Montgomery, our bargaining team chair, giving details.
The mediator adjourned talks on Feb. 16 and has scheduled more talks for March 2 - 6.
While we still hope for a settlement before March 7th, we must prepare in case a strike is necessary to achieve a settlment.
Strike Prep To Do List:
- Plan to attend one of the Strike Preparation / Strike Duty Registration meetings in the week after Reading Week
- Wednesday, March 1st, 3:30 - 5:00, Lakeshore Small Cafeteria (A170 - the Blue Room)
- Thursday, March 2nd, 3:30 - 5:00, North Campus Community Room
(if you cannot attend one of the meetings, please email me to register for strike duties - use an off-site email if possible)
February 10, 2006
Final Strike Vote
|
|||||||||||||
| Humber Results |
|
||
|
Votes to Accept |
280 |
||
|
Votes to Reject |
127 |
||
There is still time to avoid a strike. The mediator has already scheduled talks for Feb. 15 & 16. The faculty team will be going to these meetings with a strong message of support from faculty.
Potential Strike Date - March 7, 2006
Strike Preparations Begin
Turn Up the Heat!
Local officers and members are starting to prepare for the potential strike. A storefront near the north campus has been rented for a strike headquarters and we are planning a trailer to be set up at the North Campus and to rent a storefront near the Lakeshore campus. Your help is welcome. Contact the union office at x4007 or in North H109.
For information on the Strike Preparation meetings and how you can prepare
select Strike Preparations.
