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OPSEU Local 558 Strike
Memos
Watch here for ongoing communications from your local strike
team.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
From: Rita McGillivray
Date: Wednesday, March 13, 2006, 3pm
Re: strike pay
Picketers at Centennial
You will receive your OPSEU strike pay from your picket captain during your
normal shift on Wednesday. You will receive your local top-up from your picket
captain on Friday.
Picketers
at colleges other than Centennial
PLEASE NOTE: If you are picketing at another college other than Centennial, you
will receive your OPSEU strike pay from that college. Contact them about any
questions. To receive your Local 558 top-up, email us next week with a mailing
address, clearly identifying that you are picketing at another college. Email:
local558@opseu558.org
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
From: RM Kennedy
Date: Wednesday, March 08, 2006, 10am
Re: profile of Centennial Professor
Read profile of Centennial professor Ray Holmes in today's
Toronto Star.
One professor
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
From: RM Kennedy
Date: Tuesday, March 07, 2006, 8pm
Re: creditor letter
For a copy of a creditor letter to supply to banks or other lending agencies
during the strike
click here.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
From: Jacques
O’Sullivan
Date: Monday, March 06, 2006, 10am
Re: Strike pay
Please note that picketing members will qualify for strike pay if the strike
lasts longer than one day.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
From: Jacques
O’Sullivan
Date: Friday, March 03, 2006, 12:19pm
Re: Field Placement during strike
We need
all faculty to make a list of all locations of field placement, clinical
placement, co-op, etc. Please report this information at the general meeting
on Tuesday. The college has indicated that they will attempt to keep many of
these activities going during a strike. This is strike breaking activity.
The union is in contact with our sisters and brothers in other unions, including
CAW, ONA, CUPE, OPSEU, HERE, etc. We will be planning with them possible
picketing of workplaces, agencies and hospitals that are involved in strike
breaking activity to do our work.
The college is again showing the lack of concern for quality education and lack
of respect for the work we do.
Thanks, Jacques
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
From: Eileen Burrows
Date: Thursday, March 2, 2006, 6:18pm
Re: Important strike information
We are entering a crucial stage in
bargaining. Our solidarity has never been more important. Here is the rule which
should guide all our actions:
"Anything that makes it easier for the college to continue normal
functioning: A.) increases the possibility of a strike B.) prolongs the strike
for all of us."
Please stop and think before you act.
What happens now?
Negotiations have been booked until March 6, 2006. During that time:
-
the parties could negotiate an agreement
quickly which our bargaining team would recommend to us for acceptance and
the strike would be called off
-
management could stick to their
concessions causing bargaining to break off - in that case we would be on
strike on March 7
-
negotiations could go to March 6 and we
would not find out until the last minute whether we have settled or are on
strike on March 7
We expect the mediator to order the parties
not to talk publicly about bargaining so unfortunately we will probably not know
how things are going.
Now is the time to put pressure on the government to avoid the strike. OPSEU has
taken out radio and print ads to increase public awareness of the issues. We
need to do everything we can to support these efforts. Contact your MPP, have
your students contact their MPPs, write letters to the editors, email radio and
TV personalities......
Our message
This strike can be avoided. The major issue is quality of education. The Rae
Report confirmed a steady decline in quality over the last several years of
underfunding. The government agreed and committed $6.3 billion over the next 5
years for quality improvements. The college system received a 14% increase in
funds in 05/06 with similar increases promised for future years.
Our demands for decreased class sizes, more out-of-class assistance for students
and more full-time faculty will result in quality improvements. This is where a
portion of the quality improvement funds should go. It is college management's
refusal to target the quality improvement funds that will cause a college
strike.
The handout that I used with the Student Association summarizes these points.
What if we go on strike?
If we are on strike you are not working for the college. You will not be coming
into the buildings, using the college email, voicemail, blackboard, lotus notes,
pipeline etc. OPSEU will pay for your benefits and you will receive strike pay
for performing strike duties. So, before we leave on the 6th be sure to:
-
pack anything you might need from your
desk - remember you won't be back at your desk until the strike is over
-
put an extended absence message on your
phone
-
put an out-of-office message on your
email
If you use college email for personal use
set up a hotmail or other alternate account. You can read your mail at your
local library.
Picket lines are a very important part of strikes. They raise awareness of the
issues with the public and they indicate to college management our commitment to
our positions. You should sign up for picket duty - accommodation will be
provided for those who need it.
Crossing our own picket lines is considered strikebreaking activity and is a
very serious departure from solidarity with our union colleagues. You will be
crossing a virtual picket line if you use any college electronic communication
methods.
What if I am away the week of March 6?
On March 13 report to any picket and we will assign you strike duties - check
the web site for details. If you want to do make-up duty that week you can
receive strike pay for March 7 - 10.
What about college pay?
On March 9 we will receive a full two week pay. On return we will make
arrangements to account for the extra 4 days - perhaps weekly pay deductions or
deduction from retroactive pay.
We will be in the union office on Friday and Monday - extension 2174 - so call
if you have any questions.
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