We appreciate everyone who took the time to complete the survey and provide their feedback. There were over 140 responses. You will see in the survey responses that there is diversity of opinion, but definitely some clear messages. This survey was exploratory in nature, meant to provide a context so that we can focus our efforts on what members require. Please view the attachment to see the survey results, including over 70 comments from our members.

Members please login to read a communication from your union.

Read the full article here: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/mcguinty-gives-ontario-coll...

Statement posted on OPSEU.ORG web site.

February 24, 2010

TORONTO – Verification of mail-in ballots has confirmed that faculty at Ontario's 24 community colleges have narrowly accepted the employer’s contract offer. As a result, the offer from the Colleges becomes the new collective agreement for the next three years.

Ted Montgomery, chair of the OPSEU bargaining team for the faculty, says fear was the big motivator for the marginal acceptance of the Colleges’ offer.

The press release can be viewed on the OPSEU website http://www.opseu.org/caat/caat_ac/caata-update-february-12-2010.htm
Members may login to read a pdf version of this release.

The press release is here on the OPSEU website: http://www.opseu.org/news/press2010/feb-10-2010.htm
Voting results are posted here: http://thecouncil.on.ca/documents/ACAD_BARG_FOV_UnofficialResults_E.pdf
Both the press release and vote results are attached (members please login to view)

A bigger-picture look at some reasons to vote "NO" to the Employer's Offer.

Please login to read the attached document.

TO: All Members of Local 354
FROM: Debbie Rautins

On Wednesday, you have the opportunity to let the Union and Management know how you feel about the offer on the table. Many of you recognize that this offer is not in the best interests of faculty and also recognize the possible damage accepting it can do, both at the individual level and for the teaching profession in the college system. The Union proposals would put protections in place and expand on the articles, especially in relation to Modified Workload. The Union proposals also attempt to address the plight of Partial Load faculty, who are ignored in management’s proposal. There are approximately 1,000 Partial Load faculty in the system.

The Union proposals bring to the college system practices for academic freedom that are current in other academic institutions. Many of the Union proposals are meant to improve your working conditions at no extra cost to the colleges. There are no economic reasons why the Colleges cannot implement them. For example, they have refused to address “unreasonable” Health and Safety concerns such as accessibility of defibrillators and protection for pregnant women. Of course, the Union negotiators do not expect to have all of our demands on the table met but if you read through carefully, many of them are very reasonable.

If you vote to reject the college offer, you are voting to tell the college that they should accept the union's offer to resort to binding arbitration, the only sure way to avoid a strike while getting a fair settlement - fair to yourself and your colleagues, fair to the colleges and fair to the students who we care for.

• Protect yourself, now and in the future.
• Protect the SWF and your workload.
• Give yourself the tools to be better employees and teachers.
• Ensure you are safe and your job is safeguarded.
• Ensure fair compensation for the work you do.

Click here: http://www.moderncolleges.ca/