OPSEU College Faculty Stand Up for Quality Education, Fairness & Good Jobs

Despite 3 months at the bargaining table and a strong strike vote, 12,000 OPSEU faculty at Ontario’s 24 Community Colleges have had to set a strike deadline of one minute past midnight tonight (12:01 a.m. Monday).

The goal? To achieve a fair contract that addresses the damage to quality education done by years of government underfunding and the massive expansion of low-wage, part-time and contract teaching positions.

Key OPSEU demands include: i) Fairness and equal pay for contract faculty to create job security and improve the student experience. ii) A minimum 50:50 ratio of full-time to non-full-time faculty to maintain stability and improve quality iii) Academic freedom and a legitimate voice for faculty and students in the way our colleges are governed.

If the College Employer’s Council continues to reject these proposals, OPSEU members will be mounting picket lines at college campuses in Region 5 and across Ontario.

Solidarity works! – How YOU Can Help Make the Difference

1) Show Your Support on the OPSEU Picket Lines

If there is a strike, picket lines will be going up Monday morning. By visiting the picket lines – and bringing a contingent from your local – you can help strengthen the strike and send a clear message to college management and the Wynne Government. We stand for Fairness, Good Jobs and Quality Education!

PLEASE SEE BELOW for the MAIN PICKET LOCATIONS & TIMES for the Region 5

College academic locals at George Brown, Centennial, Seneca and Humber colleges!

2) Email the 24 College Presidents, Kathleen Wynne & Deb Matthews Today!

Just go to http://www.collegefaculty.org, click on the link to “send a letter of support,” enter your email address and click to “Add Your Voice” to the call for quality education and a fair contract for community college faculty.

3) Find Out More…

For more information on the issues, the latest news about bargaining and the countdown to a possible strike, go to:  www.collegefaculty.org and http://www.opseu.org/sector/caat-academic.

JOIN THE PICKET LINES at these Region 5

CAAT- Academic Picket Locations

GEORGE BROWN COLLEGE – LOCAL 556

St. James Campus, 200 King Street E. (between Jarvis & Sherbourne), 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. (Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.)
Casa Loma Campus, 160 Kendal Ave (south of Davenport, west of Spadina Rd), 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. (Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.)
Waterfront Campus, 51 Dockside Dr. (south of Queen’s Quay E. at Lower Sherbourne), 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. (Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.)

CENTENNIAL COLLEGE – LOCAL  558

Progress Campus, 940 Progress Ave (east of Markham, south of Hwy 401), 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (Friday 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.)
Ashtonbee Campus, 75 Ashtonbee Rd (west of Warden, north of Eglinton), 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (Friday 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.)
Morningside Campus, 755 Morningside Ave (at Ellesmere), 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (Friday 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.)
Story Arts Centre, 951 Carlaw Ave (at Mortimer), 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Pickering Site, 1340 Pickering Pkwy (west of Liverpool Rd, north of Hwy 401), 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

SENECA COLLEGE – LOCAL 560

Newnham Campus, 1750 Finch Ave. East at Au Large Blvd (west of Hwy 404), 8:00 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Seneca @ York, York University Keele Campus,  70 The Pond Road (west of Keele), 8:00 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Markham Campus,  Seneca Way at Allstate Parkway, (north of Hwy 7, east of Hwy 404), 8:00 a.m. – 6:15 p.m.
King Campus, 13990 Dufferin St. (north of 15th Side Road), King City, 8:00 a.m. – 6:15 p.m.
Jane Campus, 21 Beverly Hills Drive (west of Jane, north of Hwy 401), 5:30-7:30 P.M.

HUMBER COLLEGE – LOCAL 562

North Campus, 205 Humber College Blvd (south of Finch, east of Hwy 427), 7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Lakeshore Campus West, Parking Lot 1, 23rd Street (south of Lakeshore Blvd W.) 7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.