The most important decision
January 8, 2009
Thousands of Ontario college faculty will soon be making one
of the most important decisions of their working lives.
For the first time in their history, college part-time
faculty will have the opportunity to join a union.
Last fall, our historic campaign to win rights for college
part-timers resulted in a change in a 35-year-old Ontario law that excluded
them from union rights.
More than 5,000 faculty members signed union cards, and that
was enough to trigger the next step to a better working life: a
representation vote by secret ballot.
Of course, the college management are doing everything they
can to place roadblocks in the way. Whatever the final outcome we know that
that nothing good is ever won without a struggle.
I am confident that college part-time faculty will make the
decision to choose to join our union. They will do so with the full
knowledge that their working future depends on getting some job stability in
their lives, and better compensation for the many hours they put in on
behalf of the thousands of students they teach.
They deserve a better deal, and they deserve to be a part of
our great union.
In solidarity,
Patty Rout
Fist Vice-President/Treasurer
