March 25, 2006 3:50
pm
Union mourns John Stammers, 62
It is with deep sorrow that the members of the Ontario
Public Service Employees Union learned of the death today of John
Stammers, 62.
John Stammers was a professor of Accounting at
Centennial College in Scarborough. He was critically injured after
being struck by a car while on picket duty on March 20.
“On behalf of my local, and all college faculty across
the province, and all members of the union, I want to extend our
condolences and our deepest sympathy to John’s family,” said Eileen
Burrows, president of OPSEU Local 558. “All of us at Centennial are
devastated by this news.
“John was a wonderful colleague,” Burrows said. “He was
very popular with students. He was always patient. He always gave
them all his time and attention. And he always took an interest in
making the college work better for students.”
Mr. Stammers was a union supporter and a member of a
local union committee, Burrows said.
“The local has been receiving cards and e-mails of
support from faculty members and OPSEU locals across the province
ever since he was injured,” she said. “John was a colleague who
stood up for the same things all college faculty stood up for, and
we will miss him.”
Keeping students out of class Monday “inexcusable and
incomprehensible”
Less than a day after signing an agreement to end an
18-day faculty strike, management at Ontario’s community colleges is
dragging its heels about getting students back to class.
Several colleges, including Fanshawe (London), Georgian
(Barrie/Midland), and Seneca (Toronto) are telling students that
classes won’t resume until Tuesday or even Wednesday.
“This is absolutely inexcusable and totally
incomprehensible,” said Ted Montgomery, chair of the faculty
bargaining team of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union.
“College management announced their Semester Completion Strategies
12 days ago. It certainly calls into question their competence if,
after 12 days of planning, they can’t have the colleges up and
running on Monday.”
Montgomery said not starting classes on Monday was “a
recipe for chaos,” as not all students will consult their college
web site before coming into class.
“The doors will be open, the faculty will be there, and
some students will show up, but there won’t be any classes at these
colleges,” he said. “It’s absurd.
“Yesterday Premier McGuinty said he wanted to see
students back in the classroom on Monday,” said Montgomery. “It’s
time college management got its act together.”
