Bad news on the college faculty strike.
OPSEU has turned down the latest management offer and the college bargaining team is asking that the strike be suspended and professors return to classes.
"OPSEU's insistence on continuing the strike is a terrible outcome for students and faculty," said Sonia Del Missier, Chair, Colleges' Bargaining Team. "We addressed all faculty priorities and the offer that is available for faculty right now - on the table - should have ended this strike."
Missier says the Labour Board will hold a faculty vote on the employer offer
She says management addressed faculty demands on:
- Enhancing full-time employment opportunities for contract faculty
- Increasing pay
- Greater rights for contract faculty
- Better job security for contract faculty
- Academic freedom guarantees,
The government has agreed to establish a task force on the future of Ontario colleges that will look at various issues, including staffing models and the issue of precarious work.
Meanwhile Ontario colleges say they have asked the Ontario Labour Relations Board to schedule a vote on the colleges' offer.
"We need to end this strike and get students back in the classroom. We have asked the Labour Board to schedule a vote and let our faculty decide," said Ms. Del Missier.
They have also requested that the strike be suspended.
"This will allow faculty and students to return to class, while the vote is being organized. Suspending the strike will also allow voting at college campus locations so that the largest number of faculty are able to exercise their right to vote," says a college news release.
The Labour Board will determine the vote date. It is expected that the vote will take between five and ten days to organize.
OPSEU had no comment on its website today in response to the college claims.