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 professors, instructors, librarians and counsellors have been forced on strike for fairness, good jobs and quality education in at Ontario’s 24 Community Colleges.

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.

The College Faculty’s Fight is EVERY OPSEU Member’s Fight! – How YOU Can Help Make the Difference

The key issues in this strike – fairness, good jobs and respect for the work we do – are issues in every OPSEU workplace. And any gains OPSEU’s College Academic  (CAAT-A) Division through this strike will raise the bar for all OPSEU members – and other workers across Ontario. Here are 4 ways YOU can help.

1) Join the Mass Solidarity Rally at Seneca @ York University – Thursday, Oct. 19
OPSEU 560 and the Cross Campus Coalition of Unions on York University are organizing a Mass Solidarity Rally to Support Striking Ontario College Faculty at Seneca @ York.

What:      York Campus Solidarity Rally
to Support  Striking Ontario College Faculty
When:     Thursday Oct. 19th, 12 noon – 2 pm
Where:    York University, Keele Campus
(west of Keele St., south of Steeles)
Meet:       at the OPSEU picket line, 70 the Pond Road

Guest speakers:  JP Hornick (Chair CAAT-A Bargaining Team), Andria Babbington (Vice-President, Toronto and York Region Labour Council), Chris Buckley (President, Ontario Federation of Labour), James Compton (President, Canadian Association of University Teachers), Pam Frache (Provincial Organizer, Fight for $15 & Fairness Campaign, Fred Hahn (President, CUPE Ontario)

Help Spread the Word & Plan to Join Us:
>> Share this message with members and stewards in your local and your activist networks
>> Organize a group from your local to attend. Bring your OPSEU flags & noisemakers
>> Download, post & share the attached Rally Flyer
>> Join, like and share the Event on Facebook

2) 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!

3) Email the 24 College Presidents, Kathleen Wynne & Deb Matthews Today!
Just go to 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.

4) Find Out More…
For more information on the issues, and the latest news about the strike and OPSEU’s campaign for a fair contract for college faculty, go to:  www.collegefaculty.org and 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.

Got questions? Want to volunteer or get more involved?
Just send an email to opseuregion5ebms@gmail.com or contact one of your Region 5 Executive Board Members
Myles Magner (RVP): mylesmagner@gmail.com
Jessica Sikora (EBM): sikora.jessica@gmail.com
Julius Arscott (EBM): arscottj@hotmail.com

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