All Posts Tagged With: "Labour Relations"
UManitoba town hall wrought with tension
Meeting brings out tough questions on privatization, labour relations for university officials
I’ve covered dozens of events like this during my time at The Manitoban, and while they usually lead to some tough questions for the administration, this meeting felt particularly uncomfortable and seemed to reflect that there are more than just a few disgruntled individuals unhappy with how the U of M is being run.
First up was a question about a deal struck between Aramark and the university that will see the management of the U of M’s Caretaking Services department taken over by the company in June. The deal has stirred up a certain amount of controversy, as it has already lead to four assistant managers and one manager in the department losing their jobs. It also marks the second department in the university to be taken over by Aramark in a year, after the management of the university’s Special Functions department, now Conference and Catering Services, was handed over to the company last summer.
Frank Wright, chair of CUPE Local 3007, the union representing support staff at the university, asked about the job security for staff working in the department, and if CUPE could see a copy of the contract between Aramark and the U of M.
U of M vice president (administration) Debbie McCallum affirmed that staff in the department would not be affected by the deal. Though McCallum said the contract was not available for review, she said she would be happy to sit down with Wright to discuss the union’s concerns.
For the remainder of the meeting, administrators fielding questions seemed to dodge giving honest, clear-cut answers but promised that they would be willing to discuss any concerns presented after the town hall was over. For example, one student working for the university’s food services department, which is also operated by Aramark, asked about why students were paid less than their older, non-student coworkers but often expected to work harder. She was told by Barnard that the meeting was not an appropriate place to discuss the issue—but, she could take it up with McCallum at another time.
I realize that the meeting had a limited time frame, but it was disappointing to see the question brushed off so rapidly. Realistically, this is probably the only time the average student would have face-to-face time with McCallum or Barnard.
One issue that stirred up a heated debate between university officials and students was the party bus ban on campus. The university banned the buses in January, with a memo sent to student group leaders and local bars saying that the university was reviewing its alcohol policy, and the decision came “in light of recent incidents that have been the direct result of bus trips organized by local nightclubs.”
Residence student Zachary Leclerc argued that there was virtually no student consultation on the decision, and that the ban had made it extremely difficult to organize events for residence students this past semester.
McCallum stressed that the ban was over a safety issue, and that “most universities have banned party buses.”
“What’s safer,” having students drinking and driving or having them drink too much on a bus? Leclerc shot back, to which McCallum replied that it was “not our responsibility to provide buses so they can overdrink.”
Though the meeting was originally scheduled so that Barnard could give a presentation touting the university’s Outstanding Workplace Initiative, a project with the goal of making the university a better place to work, this was attacked as well. After a video was shown celebrating the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy (MCHP), a pristine research centre located on the university’s downtown campus, chemistry professor Philip Hultin argued that it only demonstrated “everything that is wrong with the university.”
Hultin went on to explain that the video didn’t realistically portray what the university was actually like as a place of work and only highlighted the dichotomies between units on campus. I’d have to agree with him, since the MCHP looked like it was far from some of the leaky, decrepit buildings on the Fort Garry campus that most students and staff have to shuffle through.
I doubt that any of the problems brought up at the meeting will be solved, or even addressed, anytime soon, but it did feel good to see faculty, staff, and students alike raising their voices about them, rather than stew in the apathy that plagues the U of M campus all too often.
McMaster reappoints dean, despite faculty disapproval
School reappoints unpopular business dean, CAUT calls it a “dark day”
McMaster University has renewed the term of their Dean of Business Paul Bates despite an overwhelming rejection of his leadership by faculty.
During the re-appointment process, members of the business faculty voted overwhelmingly against renewing Bates for a second term. Reliable sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the university only discussed the matter in closed session meetings, tell me 36 faculty members voted against reappointing the Dean with only six voting in favour.
In a letter published in the local newspaper, the executive director of the Canadian Association of University Teachers, James Turk, called the decision by the university a “dark day for the university.”
Turk states that Bates should be resigning due to the lack of confidence that his faculty has in his ability to lead them. He calls the decision to ignore faculty opinion a “troubling message to faculty at McMaster and to the broader university world — the views of the McMaster faculty are not relevant in deciding whom the board appoints to senior administrative positions”
Ontario’s part-time college faculty finish unionization vote
3,544 ballots will not be counted until latest legal battle is settled by Labour Relations Board
Ontario’s part-time and sessional college faculty members finished voting last week to decide if they were in favour or against joining the Ontario Public Service Employees Union.
OPSEU says 3,544 faculty members voted. It is estimated there are over 17,000 part-time and sessional faculty teaching at Ontario’s 24 public colleges.
The end of voting is only the beginning of the latest legal battle resulting from the unionization drive.
Colleges Ontario, an umbrella organization representing the 24 colleges, and OPSEU are both arguing over who exactly is eligible to vote.
The 3,544 ballots will remain seal and not be counted until the Ontario Labour Relations Board makes a decision to settle the dispute. It is expected to be months before any decision is made.
The vote follows years of struggle by OPSEU to get the right to organize part-time college workers, who prior to this academic year, were forbidden by provincial law from unionizing.
The ban was only lifted following a 2007 Supreme Court decision which ruled unionization is a constitutional right. The ruling forced the Ontario government to amend the Colleges Collective Bargaining Act (CCBA) to allow part-time workers to unionize.
Union supports strike at UToronto if demands not met
TAs, student instructors and lab demonstrators vote 63 per cent in favour of a strike mandate
Teaching assistants, student instructors, lab demonstrators and invigilators at the University of Toronto have voted 63 per cent in favour of a strike if their contract demands are not met.
“None of our members want to strike, but they have clearly signaled that they are not prepared to accept a deal that ignores their core concerns,” says Rebecca Sanders, chief spokesperson for CUPE 3902 Unit 1.
Their previous contract expired at the end of April. Union representatives say this vote signals a strong strike mandate from their members.
“Despite the fear and anxiety generated by the economic crisis and the very difficult situation unfolding at York University, almost two-thirds of our members courageously indicated their willingness to back up their demands with labour action if necessary,” says Sanders.
Both sides say they will remain at the bargaining table and no strike date has been set.
It is hoped that a strike by members of CUPE 3902 will not result in cancelled classes or have the same disruptive consequences as the CUPE 3903 strike at York University.
Shout out: What answers do you want from the Ont. gov?
Coleman on Campus poses your York strike questions to the Premier
Tomorrow, following the UToronto CUPE strike vote press conference, I will be heading to Queen’s Park and camping out with the rest of the media to ask questions of the Premier and the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities.
I’m going to ask for a response to an expected strike vote at UToronto. I’m expecting an answer along the lines of “it is premature to comment on the situation.”
Then I’ll turn to the situation at York University. I’m not going to ask how the government plans to end the strike, as this will merely result in the Minister repeating his speaking points. (Plus, I’m not the opposition.) Instead, I want to ask the Minister what the government is doing for students as the strike continues with no end in sight.
Therefore, I’m asking you.
As a York undergraduate, what do you want to know from the government?
I expect many of you are wondering about the status of your government loans in January if the strike continues, and what will happen to your loans if the academic year is extended into May. You may also be thinking about government summer jobs that start in May or how you will recover lost summer earnings to pay tuition next September. I’ve already heard from people who have been laid-off from part-time campus jobs who are facing financial difficulty.
Send me your questions and I’ll use them to help formulate the questions I ask the Minister.
With the Legislature adjourning for their winter recess, this is the last chance I have to question the Minister until the House resumes sitting in February.
The question and answer will be posted tomorrow early in the afternoon.
UToronto CUPE set to announce strike vote results
Will be joined by CFS-O, students’ union, and Ontario NDP education critic
Breaking news: Union supports strike at UToronto if demands not met
Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 3902, which represents teaching assistants, student instructors, lab demonstrators and invigilators at the University of Toronto, will be announcing results of their strike vote at a news conference tomorrow morning.
The news conference will be held at 10 a.m. on the University of Toronto campus. CUPE 3902 will also be joined by the Canadian Federation of Students - Ontario chairperson, the University of Toronto Students Union, and the Ontario New Democratic Party education critic in a show of solidarity for the union’s demands.
I will attend the news conference and will either liveblog or live-tweet the event. Check back here later tonight to find out which method I will use to quickly deliver the information.
Update: I will be twittering from the announcement on my Twitter page at www.twitter.com/JoeyColeman
Final update from Osgoode students
About 78 per cent of law students favoured resuming classes “as soon as possible”
This will be my last update on the resumption of classes at Osgoode Hall, while the CUPE strike has the rest of York University shut down. I appreciate the issues surrounding this relatively small group of students may be of less interest to a general readership. But I also think it’s a very interesting study in the complexities that result when one group of affected students is carved out from the whole and specially accommodated.
Mr. J.P. Rodrigues has been in touch with me. He’s the President of Osgoode’s Legal and Literary Society – their student government. He’s offered me some firm data regarding the survey they conducted among their membership, which I’ve been interested in for some time, and he wished to take particular issue with some of what I reported from Mr. Kevin Tilley (one of the Osgoode student reps on York’s Senate) in my last update. Seems only fair to give him equal airtime.
The survey conducted among Osgoode students, relatively early on in the strike, was answered by 505 students or about 60 per cent of the total. Of those who responded, 78 per cent were in favour of resuming classes “as soon as possible.” I reported in the past that I believed the sentiment was strongly in this direction but it’s nice to have clear figures. Personally, I’m still not sure how to take it that so many students at Osgoode were ready to cross a picket line less than two weeks into a strike. But I’ve acknowledged in the past that Osgoode’s student reps were right to promote the interests of their membership and to reflect their stated preference. That’s what good representatives do.
Mr. Rodrigues takes issue with the suggestion I quoted from Mr. Tilley that students were not adequately consulted on the resumption of academic activities. It isn’t for me to mediate between their differing views, but I actually think these statements are not contradictory. The Legal and Literary Society definitely sought and received a clear statement from students that they wished to resume class. But all the same many questions about what that would mean and how it would play out remained unanswered. I believe that’s what Mr. Tilley meant when he referenced a need for more consultation.
In particular, unanswered questions still relate to the status of students who have elected to not resume their classes and academic work during the strike – as is their right under York’s Senate policy. I do believe the Legal and Literary Society have done their honest best to see this topic addressed. I think they’ve done a great job all around, actually. But I also see a situation where the Osgoode student body has been split against itself, and the majority who have resumed classes have become an unwitting lever exerting pressure on the minority who wish to respect the strike. It may be at least some students who were hoping for business as usual are uncomfortable with these outcomes.
Mr. Rodrigues writes, “an overwhelming amount [of students] are relieved and happy that classes are finally resuming.” I’m sure that’s accurate. He also states that it isn’t true “students are feeling pressured to return to classes” and I’m sure that’s true for the large majority, though I continue to wonder about the remainder. He asserts, “[w]hile ensuring classes resumed on December 1st and the school year still ended on April 27th, we did not neglect those students who wished to exercise their right to not suffer academic penalty during a labour disruption.” And again, I really do believe that. I’m not sure that the administration has done as much as they might, but I have a lot of respect for student efforts on this front.
I first started chewing on this topic because I was interested in the effects of a labour action on the student body at a law school that is widely touted as progressive. I hope I haven’t offended anyone with my sense of disappointment. I’m not on side with CUPE here, necessarily. I’m on side with the labour movement generally and the importance of a picket line. I expected more students at Osgoode would agree with me. Apparently I was wrong. But that’s hardly their fault. Students are well within their rights to cross the picket line and God knows they’re paying enough for the education on the other side of it.
I hope this strike ends as soon as possible, for the sake of all affected. And to anyone who thinks I’ve got it a little too cozy over here at U of T, where I attend law school, CUPE 3902 (U of T’s contract faculty, TAs, etc.) is holding a strike vote starting today. A strike mandate doesn’t necessarily mean a strike, of course, but it’s one big step in that direction. I may yet catch my share of this experience from the other side.
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Questions are welcome at jeff.rybak@utoronto.ca. This blog is still primarily about advising, and I do like questions.
CUPE 3903 on Osgoode’s resumption of classes
Rep expresses sympathy for law students under “intense academic pressure”
I had an opportunity very late this evening to speak with Ms. Punam Khosla, one of CUPE 3903′s media contacts. She was good enough to give me their perspective on the resumption of class at Osgoode, which will occur tomorrow and promises to be contentious.
Ms. Khosla expresses a lot of sympathy, which I feel is genuine, regarding the plight of students at Osgoode and Schulich, where classes have also (previously) resumed on a limited basis. She states “students are under a lot of pressure, academically, when they go to these professional schools.” She clarifies that all students are under pressure, naturally, but acknowledges that the cost of these programs is especially burdensome.
On the issue of Osgoode’s reputation for progressiveness, at least among students, which appears to be on the line here, Ms. Khosla has this to say. She feels there are many progressive students but they are under “intense academic pressure” to resume class. In particular, she cites the competition factor and suggests that once some students resume class others feel almost obligated to do the same or risk falling behind. In this way, the administration’s decision to resume classes pits students against one another.
I raised the question of doing work from home. Osgoode has committed to taping all lectures so that students can work from home and never cross the picket line. Personally, I feel that only makes it easy to cross the picket line in a virtual sense. Ms. Khosla is more tolerant of students electing for this option and feels, at least, it’s a lesser intrusion than physically crossing the line. She additionally states, however, that this is “in some sense the university conducting business as normal.” As the goal of any strike is to prevent the university from conducting business, even working from home is a partial failure to respect the strike.
Ms. Khosla made some additional points regarding the rise in tuition at Osgoode and Schulich and the resulting divide between students in these professional programs and everyone else. I take these as general expressions of solidarity with the broader student cause but they certainly came across as heartfelt. I had the sense that Ms. Khosla is aware there’s a lot of resentment among students out there, and feels somewhat uncomfortable that CUPE has been forced into what appears to be (at least to many people) an anti-student position. I’ll simply repeat my standing observation that CUPE has definitely been losing the media war with York University, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re wrong, just that they’re out-gunned. Of course it could also mean they’re wrong, too.
CUPE will definitely be at the pickets tomorrow, and will be observing strike protocol to the limits of their rights. It’s probably obvious to say this, by now, but anyone looking to cross the line is advised to leave a lot of extra time for that. Tempers may be raw and it won’t do anyone any good to aggravate the situation. If you must cross the line, please wait as requested, take some literature, and take the opportunity to learn why CUPE 3903 is on strike from their perspective. They are undeniably overwhelmed in their messaging by York. If you’re going to cross their line, at least listen to them when you do.
York University strike is CUPE’s Waterloo
You know a strike lacks support when even The Toronto Star doesn’t get behind it
Thursday, on the first day of the strike, The Star‘s editorial board decided Friday’s editorial would be critical of the actions of CUPE 3903:
Union representatives say they’ll resume negotiations when the university makes a “serious offer.” In fact, the university’s final offer of 9.25 per cent over three years and other improvements was serious enough for two other campus groups – maintenance workers and clerical staff – who ratified similar contracts.
Given those recent settlements, and the fact that York’s teaching assistants already earn the highest wage in Canada, the latest offer seems in line with the tough economic times. The university’s proposal to settle the dispute through binding arbitration also seems a reasonable way to bring a quick close to this strike. The union has refused.
I wrote Thursday that the strike comes down to basically one issue: the length of the contract. CUPE wants a two year contract to position itself to shutdown most of Ontario’s universities in 2010. York U wants the standard three year agreement.
I’ve received an interesting array of comments and emails on my conclusion. A couple of people have called it conspiratorial and one person called it a ridiculous theory suggesting my opinion piece be removed.
I stand by my assessment and feel that the lack of willingness to accept arbitration by CUPE 3903 strengthens my argument.
If the dispute goes to arbitration, the union and university are well aware that an arbitator will look at the standard for agreements across Ontario. The union may get a little more compensation and may see a decrease in tuition fees for its members compared to the university’s most recent offer. In short, they will get much of what they are asking for. They only thing they are guaranteed to not get is a two year contract. The arbitrator will order a standard three-year agreement.
The only thing the union has to lose from arbitration is their plan to strike in 2010. Until the union’s two-year demand is off the table, there is no reason for the university to come to the table. Frankly, the university’s compensation offer is reasonable, and even The Star agrees with that assessment.
Most pro-union talking points include 2010 as an issue and the latest talking points I’m hearing are saying that the university is “stubborn” because it isn’t even moving on “non-monetary issues” such as length of contract.
Thankfully, for students and union members alike, the strike has a limited lifespan.
Everyone knows that the provincial government will not be able to sit on its hands and allow this strike to continue beyond January 2, 2009. The provincial legislature recesses for Christmas on December 11, 2009 and is not scheduled to return until the middle of February.
This means back-to-work legislation is likely to be introduced at the beginning of December. The only questions are when will it be introduced, will the NDP delay its passing based on principle, and will York U attempt to salvage a few instructional days prior to the Christmas break.
I do not have the answers to these questions.
I would expect the government to introduce the legislation at the last possible moment. Governments are loath to interfere in union disputes and only do so after having great pressure placed on them. The TTC strike is a rare case of the government acting quickly, and a great deal of the speed was the result of public outrage at the actions of the union.
As for the NDP, they will not vote in favour of back-to-work legislation, but will likely not interfere with the passage of a back-to-work order.
York University, if the strike lasts into December, will have to salvage as many days as they can during the Christmas break. While disruptive to Christmas break plans, the alternative is classes in May; a much worse scenario in the long term for York students.
For TAs, back-to-work legislation will result in arbitration. The only difference between arbitration now and then are all the wages and benefits they will lose during the intermediate period.
The real question is what will the rank and file TA do? Allow the union to keep them on the picket line until the government orders arbitration or force union leaders to accept the offer of arbitration? With even The Toronto Star coming out against the union, it must be clear to graduate students this strike is a lost cause; the only thing left for them to decide is how much damage they do to themselves in the process.
See also: More Maclean’s On Campus coverage of the York University labour dispute.
Poll Question
What should be done about hazing on campus?
- It should be banned outright (44%)
- If students want to join a frat, that's their choice (39%)
- It should be monitored and regulated (17%)
Loading ...This poll closes at 20:00 Eastern Standard Time on November 11, 2008
Ont. dismisses combined bargaining for university unions
Union officials are pushing for bargaining process similar to provincial school boards
Co-ordinated bargaining for all universities across Ontario is not being considered by the province despite a second university going out on strike since the school year began, the government said Thursday.
Some 3,400 contract faculty, teaching assistants and graduate assistants walked off the job at York University in Toronto after the midnight deadline passed.
Union officials have argued for a provincewide bargaining process similar to the one used with school boards, but the minister responsible for colleges and universities said that isn’t going to happen.
“I respect the autonomy of the institutions when it comes to our universities,” said John Milloy. “I’m confident that both sides are going to work to find an agreement that’s in the best interests of the students at York.”
The province could save time and money through combined bargaining, said Fred Hahn, secretary-treasurer for the Ontario chapter of the Canadian Union of Public Employees.
“It’s the same idea we’re talking about for universities… that we think would be good for the entire broader public sector quite honestly,” said Hahn.
The same thing happens at Ontario hospitals, and could be applied to nursing homes and social services agencies, he noted. “There could be great cost-efficiencies held just by having some kind of provincial bargaining structure.” In the current economic climate, it’s not just public sector workers that bear the burden of fiscal belt-tightening, Hahn said.
“The government has to start to think about ways of doing things differently,” he said. “The provincial government has a great role to play in developing efficiencies and saving resources.”
Christina Rousseau, chairwoman of CUPE Local 3903 which represents the striking York workers, conceded her members are better off than most in Canada but doesn’t feel that combined bargaining would negatively impact them.
“If we could use our status as having one of the better agreements to help make other locals in the sector better, I think it’s something we can do,” said Rousseau. “It’s the best of out of a bunch of collective agreements that are nowhere near adequate.”
Milloy wouldn’t speculate on how much time the sides at York might have to reach a deal before considering any back-to-work order.
But Hahn insisted combined bargaining has been shown to expedite the process. “Local unions that might spend a year at the table have been able to reach agreements in two months,” said Hahn.
In September, more than 1,000 professors, librarians and part-time teachers went on strike at the University of Windsor. That delayed the start of classes for some 16,000 students for more than two weeks, meaning the fall semester had to be extended.
There’s concern an extended strike at York could extend classes into the summer. Dave Tovee, 24, a fourth-year geography student from Huntsville, Ont., worried about the job prospects for graduating students.
“It could really jeopardize their chances of coming out with the field of graduates from other schools,” said Tovee.
The striking workers at York are seeking an 11 per cent wage increase over two years, compared to the 9.25 per cent hike over three years being offered.
“But when you look at the wages and benefits packages together, it actually ends up being 2.3 that they’re offering us per year,” Rousseau said.
The Windsor agreement included a nine per cent wage hike over three years.
York graduate assistant Dave Blocker, 24, said he and his peers get between $10,000 and $14,000 for the year, which isn’t enough.
“Based on what I’m getting from York, I’d be living well below the poverty line,” Blocker said. “When you subtract the tuition payment of some $5,000 for the year, that leaves virtually nothing to live on… especially when you’re trying to live in Toronto.”
-The Canadian Press
Ont. Gov: Not our problem, they are autonomous
Ontario’s Minister of Training, Colleges, and Universities is dismissing the idea of provincial bargaining for university employees in Ontario. He cites the “autonomy” of universities as one of the reasons the provincial government will not involve itself. When did academic freedom (autonomy) include the finances of the university itself? Of course, the big concern with [...]
Ontario’s Minister of Training, Colleges, and Universities is dismissing the idea of provincial bargaining for university employees in Ontario. He cites the “autonomy” of universities as one of the reasons the provincial government will not involve itself.
When did academic freedom (autonomy) include the finances of the university itself?
Of course, the big concern with province-wide bargaining is the strength in numbers it gives the union side.
An undergrad workers union?
Undergraduate students employed by McGill University are the target of an unionization drive led by fellow undergraduate students reports The McGill Daily. The organizers are hoping to obtain union card signatures from at least 35 per cent of undergraduates employed by the university to certify their union. I state this could be the start of [...]
Undergraduate students employed by McGill University are the target of an unionization drive led by fellow undergraduate students reports The McGill Daily.
The organizers are hoping to obtain union card signatures from at least 35 per cent of undergraduates employed by the university to certify their union.
I state this could be the start of a trend, but the political atmosphere in Quebec is so different from the rest of the county that I believe McGill and Concordia are the only two English language universities where an undergraduate labour union could successfully take root.
Strike called off at Ontario colleges
Ontario’s more than 500,000 college students can breathe a little easier following the announcement of a tentative agreement between the province’s 24 public colleges and over 7,000 support staff represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union. Today’s announcement follows a marathon weekend session of bargaining to avoid a strike which was scheduled to begin [...]
Ontario’s more than 500,000 college students can breathe a little easier following the announcement of a tentative agreement between the province’s 24 public colleges and over 7,000 support staff represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union.
Today’s announcement follows a marathon weekend session of bargaining to avoid a strike which was scheduled to begin Tuesday.
The strike would have resulted in longer than usual line-ups for students attempting to pick-up financial aid forms, register for classes, or purchase textbooks.
Colleges planned to remain open and classes were scheduled to continue during a strike.
“We are pleased that both sides were able to reach a new agreement prior to the starting of classes on Tuesday,” says Jenn Howarth, president of the College Student Alliance. “Students will now be able to access essential services and move about campuses with ease, knowing that all staff – administration, faculty and support staff – are there to assist them.”
Both sides are honouring a media blackout agreed to as part of their negotiations and no details of the agreement have been revealed.
The agreement still requires ratification by both parties.
Ontario’s part-time college staff to get bargaining rights
Public Sector Union says it comes “with a high price tag”
The Ontario government introduced legislation today which will allow the province’s over 17,000 part-time and sessional college workers to unionize.
The changes to the Colleges Collective Bargaining Act (CCBA) will remove provision that forbid part-time college workers from unionizing. The bill will also allow colleges to use replacement workers in the event of a labour dispute.
Last summer, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled there is a constitutional right to unionize making Ontario’s ban on unionization for part-time college workers unconstitutional.
In response, the government appointed Kevin Whitaker, Chair of the Ontario Labour Relations Board, to make recommendations on changing the CCBA. The legislation tabled today will implement those recommendations.
“A healthy and robust collective bargaining process serves the interests of students, college employers and workers. The Ontario government’s proposed legislation encourages all parties in the college sector to take greater responsibility for finding solutions to workplace challenges,” said Whitaker.
Thousands of college part-time workers have signed union cards to join Ontario’s largest public sector union, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU).
OPSEU says the legislation comes with a high price tag. The union is unhappy with provisions allowing colleges to use other workers in the event of a labour disruption. “It is pretty outrageous that this government thinks that recognizing the Charter rights of one group of workers means that another group of workers must give something up,” said OPSEU president Warren (Smokey) Thomas.
However, the union is calling on all parties to fast-track the legislation.
“Make no mistake about it, we want this bill passed into law as soon as possible,” says Thomas. “But we are definitely looking for changes to be made.”
Although consistent statistics are not readily available in Canada, it has been estimated that over one-half of college faculty in Ontario are part-timers. In the U.S., where more accurate statistics are published, 47.5 per cent of faculty were part-time in 2005, up from 46.3 per cent in 2003. Evidence seems to suggest that the trend is mirrored in Canada. The latest StatsCan data(from 1997-98)shows 10 per cent growth since 1990 while full time positions decreased.
These professors are paid a fraction of their fulltime counterparts, on a class-by-class basis. Part-time university professors receive between $6,000 and $13,000 per course depending on the institution and college sessionals make even less. They generally do not have benefits, pensions, or job security.
