This week, your Bargaining Team returned to the table – armed with a strong strike mandate delivered by members like you, who are ready to fight for the college communities we love.
Over the last couple of weeks, we’ve spoken one-on-one with thousands of workers as we organized for our strike vote, and one priority is clear: saving jobs.
There are thousands of good jobs leaving our communities and Ontario’s public college system, as we know it, is at risk of changing forever.
We should not settle for the future being written for us – a future without many of us.
The employer knew this was coming down the line. They wouldn’t save jobs then, and can’t be counted on to do it now – they’re too busy inflating the cost of our proposals to show us their math, let alone protect our work.
It’s up to us.
Throughout August, we asked for your support in delivering a record turnout behind a “yes” strike authorization vote. What we built in the process is the infrastructure to keep fighting.
Today, we learned firsthand that the fight is just starting. After a full day of conciliation on Wednesday, we have seen virtually no movement at the table by the employer on serious concessions – which would make it easier to lay us off, come after vacation rollover, and implement split shifts.
It’s time to take back our power
Earlier this summer, we tabled language that invites the employer to step up in lobbying the Ontario government to stop stripping public education of our public dollars, jeopardizing our families’ futures and the future of the college system in the process.
The employer refused – so this week, we tabled two new Letters of Understanding:
- There shall be no college or campus closures, or college mergers for the life of the collective agreement.
- There shall be no staff reductions for the life of the collective agreement.
Ontario colleges have already begun implementing 10,000 job cuts across the system based on projected shortfalls. To protect the stability of students’ education, to protect local opportunities, and to protect our jobs, we need a moratorium on further layoffs.
In June 2024, LCBO workers held the line and won a moratorium on store closures while facing a privatization scheme that would decimate jobs. And this week, CUPE-represented Air Canada flight attendants defied a corporate giant and the federal government – and won.
The employer, and a government focused on destroying our public college system, would love for us to believe we are powerless.
Last week, we demonstrated that we do have the power. Power exists for those that are willing to organize and to take it.
It’s time to make our next move – so make sure you join us at one of our upcoming Bargaining Town Halls on Friday, August 22:
Register for Zoom link – 12 p.m. (noon)
Register for Zoom link – 5 p.m.
We look forward to seeing you there. And as always, you can read the latest bargaining updates on CollegeSupportFT.org.
Solidarity,
Your College Support Full-Time Bargaining Team:
Christine Kelsey, Chair – Local 416, Algonquin College
Shelley Gartshore, Vice-Chair – Local 124, Lambton College
Veronica Attard – Local 416, Algonquin College
Dan Brisson – Local 672, Collège Boréal
Bob Holder – Local 243, Niagara College
Dana Leaman – Local 241, Mohawk College
Xiaoyan Wang– Local 561, Seneca College
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