Days one and two:
Algonquin
(Source: Local 415 and NUPGE)
Members picketed in
minus-20 degree conditions (with the wind chill). Mmorale was great,
despite the bitter weather. Members understand and support our cause.
Adam Millie, a student
from Guelph, who is enrolled in Algonquin's law clerk program, agreed.
He came out to show solidarity with the strikers and to oppose a call by
the College Student Alliance of Ontario for legislature members to
legislate the teachers back to work.
"I completely disagree
with the position they have taken. The student alliance doesn't speak
for me and I know others who feel the same way," he said, handing out
leaflets in the brisk sub-zero weather "I'm here to show my support for
the instructors."
Woodroffe picket
line a success
by Sue Goldman Local 415
It was déjà vu all over
again. The Woodroffe main entrance was the same location I picketed in
’84 and ’89. Yesterday morning, people were in good spirits, and I saw a
lot of people chatting to both new and old colleagues.
Some of the people on
this line have walked the same line 17 and 22 years ago and in fact I
walked the same line with them when I met them for the first time in
‘84!
The cars that went in
were patient for the most part, and only one or two tried to push
through. We also had a number of supporters that drove by and honked
and gave us the hands up sign. (We took that for their support.)
The media were there in
full force and we did a number of TV interviews as well with CBC and CTV.
We even had a retired
manager, Ian McMaster, who came to walk the line with us to show his
support and to bring us cookies for our first day on strike.
Our first day out was a
positive one, and people on the line felt good about being there, and
they strongly supported their union
Everyone was also
appreciative of the coffee served, and today the profs from Massage
Therapy have promised to bring a chair for the trailer and do some back
massages for people who are walking.
Under the
circumstances, a “good time was had by all!”
Confederation
(Source: TB Television)
OPSEU president Leah
Casselman was in Thunder Bay on the front lines of the pickets. She says
this contract is vital to the future of education in this province.
Casselman is calling on
the province to live up to their rhetoric and deliver on suggestions
outlined in the Rae report.
Please send your
picket line stories to dcox@opseu.org
