College teachers confirm no strike
Posted February 24, 2010 5:14 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Class is in.
Verification of mail-in ballots has confirmed that faculty at Ontario’s 24 community colleges have narrowly accepted a contract offer from Ontario colleges.
As a result, the offer from the colleges becomes the new collective agreement for the next three years.
200-thousand college students were waiting for the results of this vote count.
Ted Montgomery, chair of the OPSEU bargaining team for the faculty, said fear was the big motivator for the marginal acceptance of the colleges’ offer.
“We did not want a labour disruption, and had a plan to avoid one, but the employer took the stance with our members that it was either accept the offer or be forced out on strike,” Montgomery said. “This vote is not an endorsement of the imposed terms and conditions or the employer’s last offer. Fear of a strike, according to most reports, was a key factor.”
OPSEU president Warren Thomas said the entire voting process was mishandled by the colleges right from the beginning.
According to Montgomery, the unresolved issues will remain a priority for faculty.
OPSEU represents 9,000 Ontario teachers, counsellors and librarians.
