Message from the Local 415 Strike Committee:
During a strike, there is no crossing the picket line for any reasons. The OPSEU Strike Policy is clear that with the exception of essential emergency services, no member of the bargaining unit that is on strike is to cross the picket line under any circumstances. By going on strike, we have made it clear we have withdrawn our services and our presence for the duration of the strike period. Therefore, notwithstanding any inducements by the college management to cross the picket line — whether it be the use of college parking or college washrooms — we want to be clear any crossing of the picket line constitutes strike breaking.
Message from the Bargaining Team:
It is more important now than ever that we stand together as faculty. The effectiveness of any job action is through withholding entirely the work that we do from our employer. This is the nature of a strike. Continuing to engage in work whether online or face-to-face serves only to prolong a strike and to undermine the solidarity required to reach a settlement.
In preparation for a strike or lockout
It is business as usual until a strike or lockout occurs. Please do not alter your weekly syllabus to make up classes that could be missed or give students extra work to do during a potential work stoppage. It is important that you do not post content on learning management systems ahead of time and remember to turn off the “automatic” or “timed” release of upcoming content. You should turn off any assignment dropboxes that will automatically open during a strike.
In the event of a strike or lockout
If it comes to strike action, we will be picketing and withholding our work from the employer. All teaching and professional activities related to our role as faculty must stop. This includes not communicating with students via email, learning management systems, and/or on social media. It also includes not meeting with students off campus and not teaching online in any capacity. Denying our expertise to the college is the main leverage we have to resolve a strike. If the colleges see that we are continuing to
work during this time, they will have less motivation to settle. We all want the best for our students and improving our working conditions will improve students’ learning conditions. While there will be short term inconvenience, there will be long term gains for both students and faculty.
Together we are stronger
All efforts have been directed towards a successful resolution to our bargaining. It is everyone’s hope that there will be no strike or lockout, but as recent events have shown solidarity works. In the event of a strike or lockout, our job as educators will be to engage our students in supporting our lines to build a better college system.