OR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 25, 2001

Victory for Union: College to stay open

TORONTO – The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) has achieved the first step of keeping Collège des Grands Lacs open – for now.

Lawyers for the Union and the College have reached a court-ordered facilitated agreement, which will allow the College to stay open for all first and second year students. OPSEU brought a motion before the Ontario Divisional Court last week to block the closing of Toronto’s only French-language college.

“This is another victory for OPSEU, for the students and for the francophone communities of southern Ontario,” said OPSEU President Leah Casselman. OPSEU represents the academic and support staff of the college. “It gives all of us more time to think about what’s best for the staff, for the students, and for the community.”

“Remember, this college was closed down in an illegal process that did not involve the community at large, the students, or the union. It was all done behind closed doors in the most undemocratic way imaginable,” she added

Union members were joined in court by students, representatives of the francophone community of Toronto, ACFO (l’Association canadienne française de l’Ontario) and NDP MPP Gilles Bisson, who have supported the bid to keep the college open. Bisson has pressured Minister of Colleges Dianne Cunningham in the Legislature for backing the college administration, since the closing of the College was first announced three weeks ago.

Julie Gigliotti, President of OPSEU Local 272 representing the college staff, said negotiations took more than three hours.

The Court ruled that the college must stay open pending further hearings on the injunction. Students who have accepted offers to study elsewhere may return to the College with no penalty. Classes must resume and OPSEU says OSAP money must now be released to students so they can continue. Hearings are scheduled for Nov. 15. and Nov. 26.

“We need continued support from the francophone community, from ACFO and from opposition MPPs to keep the college going,” Gigliotti said. “I’m confident we can do it.”

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For more information, contact:

David Cox, OPSEU Communications: 416-443-8888 x 314; 416-788-9197
Julie Gigliotti, President, OPSEU Local 272: 416-599-5090 x5299; 905-354-0098