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Demanding immediate legislation to allow unionization at 24 Ontario campuses
Toronto (23 April 2008) - The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE) has launched a petition demanding legislation allowing part-time workers at the province's 24 community colleges to join a union and bargain collectively for better working conditions.
"The government must immediately pass legislation ... and must direct the colleges to recognize OPSEU as the bargaining agent for part-time college workers," the union says. Forms for collecting signatures can be downloaded from the OPSEU website.
The union is urging everyone who supports the part-timers to circulate the petition and to present signed copies to local legislature members for tabling at Queen's Park in Toronto. Copies can also be forwarded to OPSEU offices.
The petition follows the surprising and perplexing decision by the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) not to allow a certification vote by the part-timers, despite the presentation of more than 7,000 union cards supporting OPSEU as the bargaining agent for the employees.
OPSEU president Warren (Smokey) Thomas says the board was influenced by the McGuinty government in blocking a vote. "The McGuinty government has betrayed every college part-timer and sessional in Ontario,” he said. NUPGE
More information:
? OLRB slams door on union vote by Ontario college part-timers
? Download Petition supporting OPSEU's demand for organizing legislation pdf