FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 2, 2005
Ontario community
college support staff expected to turn down offer on
Thursday
More than 6,000 support staff
at 24 Ontario community colleges are being asked to turn down
their employer’s latest offer and support a strike mandate
during a province-wide vote on Thursday.
“This vote is not about a
strike, it’s about the members standing united to get a
contract that respects, recognizes and rewards the work we do
at the Colleges,” said Rod Bemister, chair of the support
staff bargaining team.
The Ontario Public Service
Employees Union (OPSEU) has been negotiating for a new deal
since January. Contracts expire at 24 colleges across Ontario
on Aug. 31. A strike mandate could take workers off the job as
soon as September 7th.
Support staff positions
include: Registration officers, financial aid officers,
student advisors, maintenance staff, cleaning staff, technical
repair staff, technologists and information technology staff.
Support staff are asking for a
total pay package worth four per cent per year, a shorter
contract term, a service recognition allowance, and increased
time off for union matters.
Community college support staff
last went on strike in 1979.
-30 -
For information please
contact:
Rod Bemister, Chair, Colleges
of Applied Arts and Technology, Support Staff Bargaining
Team - (416) 779-0669
Rick Janson, OPSEU
Communications - (416) 443-8888 x 8207; or cell
(416)-525-3324
