TORONTO – Community college faculty have ratified a new two-year agreement that will see wages increase by 7.5 per cent.
The 8,600 members represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union have voted by 95 per cent to accept the agreement, which runs from Sept. 1, 2003 to Aug. 31, 2005.
The contentious issue of faculty workload will be studied by a joint task force in preparation for the next round of bargaining. The task force, set to report by November, 2004, will look into the impact of e-learning and alternative approaches to teaching, class size, student numbers, curriculum and professional development, scheduling of
teaching hours, and other issues affecting workload.
The agreement also commits all colleges to implement a policy to accommodate faculty returning to work from illnesses.
“This vote brings a tough round of bargaining to a successful close,” said bargaining team chair Ted Montgomery. “We achieved this settlement because members were completely ready to strike. It was pressure from our members at all 24 colleges that enabled the bargaining team to get a good contract just hours from a strike deadline.
“With the task force on workload, we anticipate significant gains in that area in the next round of bargaining. Our members will expect nothing less.”
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For further information:
www.opseu.org
Katie FitzRandolph: 416-448-7440 or cell 416-788-9057 or kfitzrandolph@opseu.org
Ted Montgomery: 416-492-9717
