TORONTO: Bob Rae's report on post-secondary education validates what front-line faculty and support staff have been saying for years, says the Ontario Public Service Employees Union.
OPSEU President Leah Casselman welcomed Rae's recommendation for increased and more stable post-secondary education dollars, and for more full-time faculty. But quality will be undermined if college part-timers are not allowed to join the union, and if university and college support staff are not recognized for their important
role.
"Rae's report validates what OPSEU members have been saying about the quality of post-secondary education in Ontario, and sets out the necessary funding to catch up with other jurisdictions," said Casselman, representing 15,000 faculty and support staff at Ontario's community colleges, plus 1,700 support staff at six
universities. "We support the creation of a higher education council, but to be effective it must be representative of all stakeholders. We have shown we can make an ongoing contribution to the council."
Rae did not deal explicitly with the exploitation of part-time workers in the community colleges. "We hope the government will take the report seriously and ensure that they increase full-time faculty numbers. The current rampant use of part-timers undermines the quality of education. The report also fails to address the
unchecked discrimination, harassment and human rights abuses against part-time workers, who should have the right to join a union like other workers," Casselman said.
OPSEU supports Rae's plans to reinvest in post-secondary education, hire additional faculty, decrease class size, reform the funding formula, and include universities in Freedom of Information legislation.
Rae's recommendation of better access for Aboriginal students and students with disabilities is positive and will require support staff to play an increasing role, OPSEU says. The union also welcomed the $20 million increase in base funding to French post-secondary education, and the creation of an advisory committee for
francophones.
The report does not fully address the need to reduce tuition and ensure accessibility for lower income families. "We want to ensure our members and other working people can afford to send their children to college or university," Casselman said.
The union will prepare a fuller response which will be found at www.opseu.org in the weeks ahead.
-30-
For further information:
OPSEU Communications: David Cox, 416-788-9197 or Rick Jansen 416-525-3324; Fernand Bégin (français) 613-742-2493 x 2047
