Great talent – no rights: Mayworks Do the RIGHTS thing Cabaret showcases part-time college workers
 

Part-time college workers get no respect in the workplace. Without bargaining rights, which are denied by the provincial Colleges Collective Bargaining Act, the 17,000 women and men who work part-time in Ontario’s twenty-four community colleges live in constant job uncertainty, their skills underappreciated and their talents undervalued. At the Rivoli in Toronto, May 2, as part of Mayworks, OPSEU and OPSECAAT decided to highlight the talents of the very special visual and performing artists who also work part-time at Ontario colleges.

Hosted by NOW Best Activist of the Year (2006) and part-time college worker Anna Willats (George Brown), Do the RIGHTS Thing Cabaret showcased the talents of professional artists such as Juno-winning jazz performer Hilario Duran (Humber), blues artists Up the Line (George Brown – one is part-time, the other full-time), the group Kavli (Humber),  saxophone player Colleen Allen (Humber) and her trio, As well, Maja Ardal (Humber) performed a piece from her one-woman hit You Fancy Yourself, Susan Allen (George Brown) and partner Susiawan performed shadow puppetry, Kirsti Wynne (Seneca) read from her recent work, and Emily Visser (formerly of George Brown) read a poem about part-time work. Visual artists Margaret Rodgers (Durham) and Genevieve Nolet (Centennial) had works on display. The performers were introduced by OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas and by OPSECAAT President Roger Couvrette.