Yesterday, your Part-Time/Sessional faculty met with the employer for the first time. They will be at the table again today. Tonight they will be hosting a town hall to update the membership on the last two days.
This is your bargaining team’s first bargaining town hall in this round of bargaining. You can register for a town hall below (the town halls will be the same):
April 29 @ 6pmhttps://opseu-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_dZDJVETwSI2vhZp9P1iPkA
April 30 @12noonhttps://opseu-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_GIRIiLkyTH-pc65nHY47Ww
Over the last couple years, the CEC has failed through three successive bargaining rounds to meet the union’s requests for disclosure of information related to program and/or campus closures, planned and potential restructuring, or layoffs that have occurred or are planned at each college.
The part time/sessional round of bargaining is inseparable from other college division bargaining rounds before. Disclosure is essential for bargaining in good faith. Yesterday, representatives from every division came together and faced the employer with your part time/sessional bargaining team at the bargaining table.
Together, they filed an unfair labour practice (ULP). We named the employer for violating the Colleges Collective Bargaining Act (CCBA) for neglecting to disclose the planned merger between Fleming College and St. Lawrence College. They also requested a freeze on the planned merger and any planned layoffs or staffing changes, until the parties can reach a joint resolution.
Our employer has an opportunity here to establish new labour relations and depart from their recent history of side-stepping the union through a lack of disclosure and transparency.
We hope to see you at the town halls to hear how you can stand behind your bargaining team!
In solidarity,
Your Local 415 Leadership Team
Tracy Henderson, President
Judy Puritt, First Vice-President
Martin Lee, Second Vice-President
Jordan Berard, Acting Secretary
Patrick Kostiw, Acting Treasurer