Posted by Sudbury Northern Life
Part-time and sessional college faculty members at Cambrian, Boréal, Canadore, Sault, Northern and Confederation colleges are participating in the largest union vote in Ontario history this week, to decide whether to join the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU).
More than 9,000 part-time and sessional employees working at 24 community colleges across Ontario are eligible to participate in the first union certification vote ever for this group.
Roger Couvrette, president of the provincial organization of college part-timers and sessionals, and representatives from Collège Boréal and Cambrian College were in Sudbury Monday to discuss this historic vote with college faculty members.
The Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) ordered that the vote be held after OPSEU presented thousands of union membership application cards to the board last December. The vote will take place at Cambrian and Canadore on Jan. 27, Sault and Northern on Jan. 28, and Boréal and Confederation on Jan. 29.
"By voting yes, we'll have the right to take part in collective bargaining to try and improve our wages and working conditions," said Couvrette. "We'll be able to create a more organized, stable work environment for part-timers at colleges, and build a better quality of education for the students we teach."
The vote is being supervised by Labour Relations Officers of the OLRB and takes place on specific dates at each of the 24 college campuses from Jan. 19 through Feb. 5. Eligible voters can vote at their own campus or at any other campus location on the dates posted at www.collegeworkers.ca .
OPSEU currently represents more than 16,000 full-time support and academic staff at 24 Ontario community colleges.
