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| The 40 hour workweek, safety standards, weekends, overtime: all exist because people literally fought and even died for it. This picture shows the kind of conditions business owners chose because they were most profitable. In my opinion, only resolute worker solidarity prevents us sliding back to those terrible days. |
What's going on right now?
Full time support staff are on strike.
If you would like to help resolve this
Email the College Employer Council and ask them to resume bargaining.
Email President Peter Devlin and ask him to direct the CEC to resume bargaining.
Find and email your MPP (minister of provincial parliment) and voice your support for workers.
Please be respectful but never doubt that student complaints are the most powerful driving force in the colleges. Your voice carries a lot of weight.
Food for thought:
Fanshawe College student spearheads class-action lawsuit against colleges
Students start class-action lawsuit against colleges over ongoing strike
Ontario students suing colleges for tuition refund
The outcome:
Tuition refunds offered to students as Ontario college strike ends
In the strike of 2017, while walking the picket line at Fanshawe college. I and several of my fellow teachers were very narrowly missed by a raging motorist that decided to deliberately drive through the picket line. The car was stopped by security and the matter was referred to the police. It could easily have gone a very different way.
I take this stuff very seriously
I am unabashedly a very pro-union person. I see that everyone benefits from a better quality of life when there is a strong, broadly supported labour movement. Even business owners benefit from a heathy and sustainable workforce, though many don't seem to realize it.
I also see the best working environment for my students will be created by unionization within the film, games and vfx industries. I've worked in several companies over my career, both union and non-union. I can unequivocally say that union shops were always more stable with healthier, sustainable conditions, and happier staff. The company was a direct beneficiary of that.
I want that for all my students. I will update this page as I know more.
-David
What happened before?
Sadly, this sort of drama is becoming more frequent. Here is where I archive previous disputes.Here's what happened in 2022
The teachers and the College Employer Council are unable to come to an agreement so we're working without a contract. The Colleges can impose whatever working conditions they like at this point. They have started to do so.
In response, the teachers have implemented a 'work-to-rule' labour action.
This means:
- I won't be answering emails, messages etc. outside of normal working hours. (M-F 9-5)
- I won't be able to spend more time giving feedback than I have allocated by my contract.
If you're wondering who the CEC is, this explains: What is the CEC?
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My message to the premiere:
Private systems, while typically being very beneficial and profitable for a small few, produce worse outcomes, poor efficiency and long term unsustainability. Turn your gaze south to see where this all leads. Is that what you really want?
You have an obligation to serve the best interests of all Ontarians. Please do the right thing.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
