Bad Deal, Pizza Lunch, Money Matters
Greetings Colleagues,
We will not be going back to the classroom to wait for their vote to take place. They, the College Employer Council (CEC), could have put this offer before us since September 15. I have been saying that they’ll beat us up a bit and then put the vote to us. Of course, that means they are beating up our students as well. But last night it seemed like they were going to compromise.
Then this morning I received a warning that I should be ready to mail an important announcement to our membership at 12:40 PM. I thought it was over. I thought I had been wrong about the CEC putting the vote to us. It’s all academic now! Instead of continuing the negotiations as expected, they reneged on most of last night’s concessions. Instead, they declared their right and intention to by-pass our elected Bargaining Team. Their cynical agenda contravened the spirit of labour negotiations and was grievously compounded by asking our Union to send us back to work without legislation until a vote could be organized.
They bargained in bad faith. They never intended to compromise. They want more contract workers and fewer full-time faculty teaching more. Think of how much they’d save if we all were assigned 3 overtime hours. That’s one of the concessions they want. Of course, you can refuse, at the risk of offending your AD, who assigns your other work.
The details of the concessions they demand need to be discussed in person. To that end, we will be holding a General Meeting/Rally this Thursday afternoon, which will count as a picketing shift. We will invite a member of our Bargaining Team, if they are available. Details to follow.
______________________________
Tomorrow – our sibling union, the Sheridan Support Staff Local 245 will be hosting a pizza lunch, (Tuesday) afternoon at our picket sites. The pizzas will be arriving at each of our three campuses around noon. Thank you Local 245.
______________________________
Sorry to all of you who have yet to receive your Week 2 Strike Pays. It should be cleared up shortly. While we’re on Strike Pay matters, this week, OPSEU Strike Pay goes up to $300 per week and $60 for every dependent, up to four. It has been difficult financially for many of us. If you have exhausted all resources you can appeal to OPSEU’s Hardship funds; see below.
Application for Hardship Fund
Colleagues, we are dealing with a cynical crew here, in the midst of their ten-year plan. I’ll explain more on Thursday, but I believe they are bluffing. At the end of the day, a six-week strike will mean a lost semester. Do the politicians want to wear that? Only way to know is to call their bluff. But this last is my own opinion.
Standing with you,
Jack
Jack Urowitz,
President, OPSEU Local 244
Sheridan Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning
(905) 845-9430 Extension 2832
Union Office 4065
(905) 845-9430 Extension 2832
Union Office 4065