TORONTO — The Ontario Public Service Employees Union, which represents 5,800 support staff at all 24 Ontario Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology, has broken off contract talks, and is preparing to take the employer’s last offer to their members for rejection.
“We have been clear since bargaining began that our priorities this year are a good wage increase, benefit and vacation parity with other groups on campus, job security and resolution for workload problems. The employer’s offer does not address these,” said Marilou Martin-Benoit, chair of the bargaining team.
The union is setting up a meeting with representatives of all colleges in mid-September and plans to organize the rejection vote by the end of the month.
“I hope this isn’t the first step toward a province-wide strike,” said Martin-Benoit. “I hope it will convince the employer to treat the support staff equitably with all the other employees who make the colleges work.”
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For further information:
Katie FitzRandolph: 416-448-7440 or cell 416-788-9057 or kfitzrandolph@opseu.org
Marilou Martin-Benoit: 416-407-3193
