Issue #6, September 15, 2011
Giant rally on Conestoga picket line turns to dance party!
What was originally billed as a picket line rally featuring speakers from
local organized labour turned into a fun-filled and spontaneous dance party
Wednesday at Conestoga College, featuring a free BBQ, scores of students and
a D.J. who volunteered his services in support of striking support staff.
“It was absolutely awesome,” said Sherry Johnston, president of Local
238. “We had a great turnout and, yes, we even had a few women dancing along
to the music.”
Johnston estimated the crowd at close to 600, which successfully plugged
up the main entrance to Conestoga’s Doon campus in Kitchener. Her estimate
was based on the BBQ menu which served up 400 hamburgers and more than 150
hot dogs. At one meal per person, there were no leftovers.
“Everybody had a great time and it was gratifying to see so many students
turn out.”
Speakers at the rally included representatives from the Ontario Secondary
Schools Teacher’s Federation, the Ontario Federation of Labour, the Ontario
Elementary Catholic Teachers Association and United Steelworkers.
Also on hand to demonstrate their solidarity with support staff were
local NDP candidates for the Oct. 6 election: Mark Cairns, Isabell Cisterna
and Cameron Dearlove.
Fred Oliver, of the CAAT Support bargaining team also spoke to the crowd.
Johnston said she was particularly impressed with remarks delivered by
Shelby Scott, an unaffiliated Conestoga student who asked to speak to the
picket line.
“(Shelby) told us she knows what we do to keep the colleges running and
that the students missed us inside. She said she hoped we get everything
we’re bargaining for,” said Johnston.
A local D.J. who goes by the name of Ron of Melody Train Musical
Entertainment stopped by and offered, at no cost, to set up his sound system
and music for anyone who wished to perform some karaoke and a bit of dancing
on the sidewalks.
OPSEU president joins strikers at Cambrian, Boréal & Sault
OPSEU President Smokey Thomas spent a busy Tuesday visiting picket lines
in Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie where he urged striking college support
staff to maintain solidarity in face of management’s refusal to resume
contract talks.
Smokey’s day kicked off in Sudbury where he was greeted by close to 200
support staff on the picket line at Cambrian College before he headed off to
Collège Boréal and more than 100 pickets at that campus. Local Sudbury
police closed down a lane of traffic to allow striking members to safely
march around each campus.
From Sudbury, Smokey moved on to Sault Ste Marie where he joined a BBQ
rally outside the OPSEU regional office. Once again, he rallied the spirits
of striking Sault College workers by saying their fight was a just one that
would lead to a contract settlement.
“His visit was a great boost to our solidarity and our spirits,” said
Local 612 president Lorri Foley.
Following the BBQ, Sault support staff and other local labour activists
marched on the College in the company of NDP candidates Celia Ross and
former Member of Parliament, Tony Martin. Along the route they passed the
campaign offices of provincial Liberal David Orazietti where they called on
him to support their struggle with college management. Orazietti had no
comment.
George Brown students to hold town hall meetings for strike information
The Student Association of George Brown College has announced it will hold
town hall meetings to help students understand the reasons for the support
staff strike.
“We’re holding these meetings to help facilitate a dialogue between the
students and the college administration so students can better understand
why their services are being adversely affected,” said Cindy Brownlee,
director of education and equity at the Student Association of George Brown
College.
“We also hope to use this opportunity for our members to understand the
education system in Ontario, and the college system in particular, is
chronically underfunded, and the underfunding manifests itself in various
ways, including labour unrest and strikes.”
The meetings will be held at St. James in the student lounge on Thursday,
September 13, 2011 at 2:30 p.m. and at Casa Loma on Tuesday, September 20 at
2:30 p.m. in the student centre. Refreshments and ASL interpretation will be
provided. Members from the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU)
will be in attendance.
“The college has declined to attend a meeting with the union in attendance,
citing the college is unable to comment on current labour negotiations, and
the union has no such restriction,” said Brownlee.
Academics donate to support staff strike funds
Striking support staff workers at two Toronto colleges are the recipients
of generous cash donations from their sisters and brothers representing
their colleges’ respective academic bargaining units.
Within days of walking out on Sept. 1, Local 562 representing CAAT
Academic staff at Humber College, passed a motion to donate $10,000 to the
strike fund of support staff at Local 563.
And on Labour Day, CAAT A at George Brown College Local 556 agreed to
donate $2,000 to striking support workers represented by Local 557.
“The money is there for them to use however they see fit,” said Local 556
President Tom Tomassi. “It’s a gesture of our solidarity with our support
staff.”
More picket line visits for OPSEU president & VP
OPSEU President Smokey Thomas and First Vice President / Treasurer will
wind down the week with a busy schedule of picket line visits.
On Friday, Smokey will stop by a early morning picket line at
Confederation College in Thunder Bay to share solidarity with striking
members of Local 731.
Meanwhile, vice president Eddy Almeida has plans to visit picket lines
today at St. Clair College in both Windsor and Chatham. He then heads up
Highway 401 for a picket line stop at Fanshawe College in London.
On Friday, Eddy will join a picket line rally at Mohawk College in his
hometown of Hamilton.
NDP candidate a real friend of labour!
Support staff with Local 351 at Fleming College in Peterborough are
grateful for the relentless support of local NDP candidate, Dave Nickle.
The candidate for the riding of Peterborough has been out on the picket
line at Fleming College everyday since Day One of the strike. Despite
the heavy demands of campaigning for the Oct 6 provincial election, Dave
hasn’t missed one day of picket line duty since our strike started Sept. 1.
He arrives each day at 7:00 a.m., ready to put in an hour or so with our
members.
Dave has held various positions within the Ontario Secondary Schools
Teachers Federation, including service as President for District 14. Most
recently he served as Provincial Councillor for District 14 and an Executive
Member of the Peterborough and District Labour Council. He is an active
member of the Peterborough Health and Electricity coalitions and a
campaigner for electoral reform. He is a member of the board of directors of
the Community Legal Centre and a social and labour activist.
Solidarity forever, Dave!
Share your picket line plans and stories with everyone!
Rallies, special events, BBQs and demonstrations of
solidarity are breaking out at CAAT Support campuses everywhere around
Ontario. Share the good news with your sisters and brothers across the
province. Have your OPSEU staff representative send breaking news, and other
information about developments on the picket line to your daily Strike
Bulletin. They should send the details to OPSEU communications officer Greg
Hamara at ghamara@opseu.org.
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