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July 24, 2009
OPSEU applies for part-time support vote
On Thursday, July 23, OPSEU applied
to the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) asking for a certification vote of
Ontario’s college part-time support workers.
The filing is the culmination of
months of card-signing across the province. Due to the extraordinary work of
OPSEU member and staff organizers, and the enthusiastic support of the
employees, enough cards have been signed to apply for the vote.
“This has been a long time coming,”
said Candy Lindsay, one of the lead organizers of the campaign. “After nearly
four years of working towards getting the legislation in place that would allow
the vote, we are one step closer to getting these workers a democratic voice in
the workplace.”
The legislation, which finally came
into effect in the fall of 2008, gave part-time college workers the legal right
to unionize. However, the legislation was also very specific on which members
would be part of any newly-formed bargaining unit.
“The law says that that those who
are eligible to vote are any employees working 24 hours a week or less, any
Appendix D employees (in the event that they revert back to part-time status),
Work Study Students working less than 24 hours, students working 24 hours or
less and staff working on non-recurring projects,” Lindsay said. “This vote
could be a life-changing event for these workers, workers that the law has
ignored for over 30 years.”
In its filing, OPSEU has asked that
the vote take place beginning the week of Sept. 21. Before that happens, the
employer will have an opportunity to respond to the union’s application.
In the meantime, Lindsay says, it
is important for workers to show their support.
“This campaign has always been
about the legal right to have a choice,” she said. “The signed cards have got us
to the point where we can ask for a vote. The next big step is to get everyone
out to cast a ballot.”
More information on the vote will
be available once the employer’s response is received.
Vote count for part-time academics still
blocked by the employer
In a direct attack on the
democratic rights of college workers, the employer continues to block the
counting of votes cast by academic part-timers at Ontario’s colleges.
Ballots have still not been counted
in the vote that was held back in February. The employer continues to rely on an
argument that OPSEU did not have the 35 per cent of membership cards signed to
allow the vote to happen. In February, the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB)
ordered the colleges to provide the union with start dates, end dates, and
employment status for all part-timers and sessionals. The colleges provided only
some of the information, and continue to stall and delay providing any evidence
to support their argument.
OPSEU has now demanded that the
employer provide this information by July 24, 2009. Failing that, we will
petition the OLRB to order the colleges to disclose their numbers.
Why vote for OPSEU? The reasons are clear
Collective bargaining will give part-timers the capacity to
address inequities:
· Lower pay: Part-time support staff and students are paid
less and get no benefits for doing the same work as full-time support staff
· No job security from semester to semester
· Lack of respect for the contribution part-timers make
to the quality of students’ education and the college system
Improved working conditions for part-time support staff mean
better education for our students. Trained, experienced staff are more
likely to stay with the college if their own needs are being met.
Remember:
· Confidentiality is assured – no one will ever know how
you voted.
· No union dues apply until you and your co-workers
approve a first collective agreement.
It’s the right thing to do – for yourself, for the thousands
of other part-time support staff, and for students.
For full information about the
OPSEU drive to win union rights for part-timers and sessionals at Ontario’s
community colleges, visit
www.collegeworkers.org or call 1-866-811-7274.
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