A reminder, you are invited to join your post-secondary colleagues from local colleges and universities a Town Hall on the Future of Ontario colleges and universities at the Westin Hotel, 1 Colonel By Drive, Thursday May 22. Light supper at 6:00 and panel presentation and discussion at 7:00.
As the Faculty and Support staff bargaining teams prepare to begin bargaining for new Collective Agreements, we want to let everyone know that we stand together in support of them, and we’re asking you to help us make our message clear. Thursday May 22 has been designated as a day to show your solidarity by wearing OPSEU blue to work. We’re going to be looking for you and your “blue crew” on the 22nd so that we can capture as many images as possible of the strong bond between our union locals.
Every day at Algonquin we see the evidence of the close relationship our Faculty and Support staff share in making our college a positive place for us to work and our students to learn. It’s a partnership that is often seamless we don’t notice how well it functions, but this year in particular we want to focus on and celebrate it.
On June 2, both units will begin bargaining with the province, one of the few times they will bargain simultaneously. The close connection between our Faculty and Support Staff is reflected in the similar priorities we have set for bargaining, which focus on the quality of education we provide. By preserving and strengthening academic freedom, job security through full-time positions and benefits for employees, as well as seeking new guidelines for online courses and the contracting out of positions,both the Faculty and Support Staff unions want to continue to provide the high-level of education we are known for.
Our bargaining teams have their work cut out for them , so remember: May 22, whether it is aqua, teal, navy or robin’s egg show off your true blue support for Faculty and Support Staff!
Congratulations to David Grigg an Algonquin faculty member, who won the OPSEU 2014 video competition for Region 4!
The theme this year was “Union members vote!” and OPSEU members from different sectors and locals created videos that tell important stories about why it is crucial to be politically active. This is the second consecutive year that an OPSEU 415 member has won for Region 4.
To see David’s video which features a number of Algonquin faculty, please go to
http://youtu.be/0vi_07Lpv84#sthash.gjRlEcxb.dpuf
To see the winning video for all of OPSEU, please go to
http://youtu.be/ipMJbYhLuVO#sthash.gjRlEcxb.dpuf
Jack Wilson
1st VP, OPSEU Local 415
Algonquin College faculty are encouraged to attend this event with their counterparts from La Cite and St. Lawrence. All full-time and partial-load faculty are welcome.
Please RSVP by May 20 by calling the Union office at 7716.
WHEN: Thursday May 22 6pm-7pm Reception, 7pm-8:30 Panel and Discussion
WHERE: Westin Hotel, 11 Colonel By Dr., Governor General Ballroom
WHAT: A discussion on the present state and possible future of Ontario Colleges, and of the post-secondary system in general. Decades of underfunding, privatization, understaffing and increasing students tuition have led to a system in crisis. Come hear from experts in post-secondary and participate in a discussion around how to revitalize higher education in Ontario.
A complementary light supper will be served at the opening reception.
All full time and partial load faculty are encouraged to attend the Annual General Meeting to be held Thursday May 15,2014 at 3:00PM in P208. A bargaining update is among the agenda items. Please see agenda below:
Agenda
Local 415 General meeting
Thursday May 15, 2014
3:00-5:00 PM RM. P208
1.Call to Order
2. Agenda
3. Approval of the Minutes of May 16,2013
4. Business arising from May 16,2013 meeting
5. Local 415 Budget
6. Contract negotiation update
7. OPSEU Convention 2015 Resolutions
8. Elections
a) Workload Monitoring Group (3)
b) College Employee Stability Committee (2)
c) Health and Safety Committee (1)
d) CAAT Division (4)
e) OPSEU Convention 2014 (4)
f) OPSEU Regional (4)
g) OPSEU Area Council (1)
h) Ottawa and District Labour Council (ODLC) (5)
9. Other Business
10. Adjournment