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(TORONTO – September 01, 2011) – Citing an unwillingness
by management to withdraw several demands for concessions and claw backs
to its existing contract – and its reluctance to negotiate many of the
union’s proposals – Ontario community college support workers will walk
off the job effective 12:01 a.m. September 1.
“We tried to reach an accommodation with management
negotiators but it became very clear as we approached the strike
deadline that they were not prepared to meet us on terms we could
accept” said Rod Bemister, chair of the bargaining committee for the
Ontario Public Service Employees Union representing more than 8,000
college support workers at the province’s 24 community colleges.
“We were committed to negotiating a deal at the table
and we remain committed to negotiating a new deal at the bargaining
table. We are prepared to return to negotiations at any time but
management must adopt a fresh approach.”
Bemister said the bargaining team had adopted the theme
“good jobs today and good jobs for tomorrow,” and that had the union
accepted management’s proposals they would have betrayed the long-term
interests of their members and of graduating students looking for good
job prospects.
With the breakdown of contract talks picket lines will
go up early Thursday Sept. 1 at more than 100 campuses around Ontario.
The bargaining team received a 77 per cent strike vote on July 14.
Bemister noted that while it is within management’s
right to keep the colleges open, he acknowledged that students and the
public will be asked to exercise patience when doing business at the
colleges.
“Support staff work in frontline services at the
colleges and the first responsibility of management is to ensure the
health and safety of students, teaching staff and the public,” said
Bemister.
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