In a press conference this afternoon, OPSEU has set a strike deadline of February 11, 2010 for both sides to reach a new collective agreement. The union has also proposed that the parties can go to binding arbitration to resolve the rest of their issues on the table and avoid a strike.
If a new agreement is not reached or both sides haven’t entered into binding arbitration by Midnight on the 10th of February, all 10,000 full-time academic staff will be on strike.
The Colleges are currently reviewing their options and will have an answer either today or early tomorrow. “We’re disappointed the union has set a strike deadline and refused to take our final offer to members for a vote,” says Nancy Hood, vice-chair of the colleges’ academic bargaining team.
More information to come…
Actually, this strike is about having many more students, with a system that does not enable the instructors to have help to teach them properly, and so forces them to use scantrons, and objective questions. Class sizes are getting bigger and bigger, and instructors are getting less and less help.
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It would be nice if the students were thought of during this time, because teachers are going on strike, who will suffer, we will, and I find it really unfair that we pay for our education and we might get prolonged classes due to this. Some of the student, I am included, we have placements in April and due to this disagreements we will be punished and our placements will be pushed, which isnt fair, because the price of education is quite high and most of us like to work during the summer to collect money to attend school, but because our placements will be later, we wont be able to work. Its just unfair!
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I understand that everyone wants more money for less work. Which is exactly what the teachers are asking for. MY accounting teacher told me that they are fighting to prevent teachers from “having” to do scantron tests and having more real knowledge based tests. Well I had one class last semester that did not give EVERY test in scantron. So if we give them any more money they will just keep doing what they are doing and not a damn thing will change. I hope the colleges do not give in, they have a right to require some real work from their employees. When teachers decide to be teachers it should be a given that they will have to do marking and prep work at home. All the teachers that they had all the way through their schooling did it so why the hell should they not have to do it too? I would rather take a strike and have a shorter summer than continue to give these teachers the “right” to be lazier for more money.
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I really don’t want the strike to happen. This situation is getting ridiculous because its our studies which are going to be affected. We have already paid for the tuition and I really expect the teachers to teach rather than looking for pay raise and going on strike. The union is talking about declining work load and pay raise, well its not like teachers have 100+ students per class to teach.
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As a parent of child that has just entered college in January, I can tell you that I will be getting legal representation and suing the opseu union for last tuition and residence fees if the teachers decide to go on strike, I hope all other parents will follow suit. In this economy they should just be glad they have a job.
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As an apprentice i go back for a 2 month term in march. It IS NOT easy to get our notices for school. Some apprentices wait years for a seat in the classroom. To be denied this because the teachers are greedy is ridiculous.
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I think the colllege should just give us all the pdfs and the movies while were on strike for the weeks were off. All the instructors do anyway is throw a pdf on screen and read word for word whats on them. I could do that at home by myself. Maybe this is good time to make changes in the system. Throw out all the money grubbing professors and give us the pdfs and movies at home so we can save money on buses and lunches. The teachers dont help people very much anyway. They throw the files at you and do a rediculous “lecture” repeating everything on the files then your on your own. With technology today who needs professors.
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There wont be a strike. Simply, the teachers are greedy and what they want is riduculas, that’s why the date has been pushed back many times because they know this. Also, i think they’ve finally realized that once they strike, they wont be getting paid. Either way, this whole strike thing is stupid and childish but us students really don’t have a say in it, so we mine as well just stay caught up with our studies and what happens, happens.
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I hope no strike, we are screwed, well students that are paying their own rent and living supplys. Also our summers will be shortend, that means less work= less money, who wants a cold winter “vacation” when you could have a long summer.
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the vote is on the 10th…on the 17th will be the strike date…if there is a strike, which I think it will happen
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UMMM OK NOW THE STRIKE IS BEING POSTPONNED TO THE 17TH? THATS READING WEEK OH WELL MAYBE WE WILL BW GETTING ANOTHER WK OFF?
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If I whine more will the teachers not strike? If Im blame the teachers for being greedy will this all stop? I want it my way cause Im a spoiled little punk kid who’s parents pay for everything anyways. Cry me a river. Youll get your damn education. Sit back and enjoy the ride.
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There won’t be a strike. The OPSEU is simply using it as a means to get what they want. They keep pushing the deadline back because they know they don’t want to strike. I think it is very childish on their part. And I agree with many of the comments I read on this page. They have no concern for us, the students. The issue isn’t even for the betterment of our education or facilities.. its just them looking at how they can make their pockets fatter. I say they should be happy they have a job. Look at other people who have been laid off. Now they want 100k+ a year? Give me a break
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Hmmm…thinking about this strike from a student STRATEGIC study POV, why not use the strike to finish your papers, and readings?
Think about it.
Call it outright cynicsm – but, despite this being my last year. I will half-heartedly support this strike – purely out of the need to finish papers and other miscellanneous school-related work.
I mean – WHY NOT???
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RIDICULOUS!!! Teachers need to stop b***hing about not getting paid enough and deal with it. CUZ YOU DO GET PAID ENOUGH! IF YOU HAD AN ISSUE WITH YOUR SALARY THEN DONT BECOME A TEACHER IN THE FIRST PLACE! BECAUSE WHILE YOUR TAKING A F**KING VACATION ON STRIKE TRYING TO GET PAID MORE EVERY SINGLE STUDENT THAT IS ON OSAP RIGHT NOW IS GETTIN SCREWED! I SIGNED UP FOR A TWO YEAR COURSE< AND PAID GOOD F**KING MONEY TO DO IT SO I BETTER GET A TWO YEAR COURSE!! I DONT WANT TO HAVE TO SPEND EXTRA TIME AT SCHOOL JUST BECAUSE THE TEACHERS DONT GET PAID ENOUGH. NEWS FLASH- ITS NOT F**KING ABOUT YOU-IT SHOULD BE ABOUT THE STUDENTS BECAUSE IF YOU DIDNT HAVE STUDENTS YOU WOULDNT HAVE A F**KING JOB IN THE FIRST PLACE!!! SO WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSE TO DO WHEN OUR OSAP ONLY COVERS ENOUGH RENT FOR SEPTEMBER-APRIL? I DONT HAVE EXTRA MONEY TO SPEND FOR EXTRA MONTHS OF RENT WHEN IM NOT EVEN DOING WHAT I CAME HERE TO DO WHICH IS GO TO SCHOOL.
I think the teachers need to stop being so selfish and think of the students.
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@InTheKnow & Northern College.
I believe the misunderstanding comes from when the strike mandate was first decided in favour of. In articles, it appeared the union had stated that the earliest possible date for a strike would be called February 15th, giving a full month of negotiations.
Hope that helps.
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“Kefo says:
Also the longest that the strike could possibly go on for is 3 weeks 6 days because it is law that we are not allowed to lose our semester.”
I’ve never heard of any such law, please provide a link.
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There are faculty who care about education. You may have read about a website that advocating the right to vote on the contract. Check out www(dot)thirdvoice(dot)ca
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@ Northern College
I was curious yesterday as well, why people kept claiming the 16th was the date, when ’strike deadline’ means that is the start of the strike.
I think partly it comes from not understanding the situation. But I also think that SOME Colleges have been giving their students misinformation.
Colleges need to make a response ASAP.
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this is ridiculous we do not need this strike to happen those of us who are in school need money for school right and alot of us probably have lined a summer job that can help us pay for school but if this strike last three weeks it will increase the school time another three weeks which for me at least will screw me out of a job.
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This is completely unfair… my class is about 3 and a half weeks into a 9 week semester. Why should we be punished? My gradeschool, highschool and university all striked. It is a tad childish to keep changing a tentative strike date. The students are left in the dark about their, our, EDUCATION. In society today, jobs are few and far between. All we are asking for is to give us our class notes and assignments for the semester if you strike so that we can at least attempt to stay ontop of things and graduate. Most of my classmates could be working instead of college and be making money to pay their bills. Instead they are trying to better themselves. And this is how we are treated. It cost everyone time and money to be here… dont just screw us over. Its your students that will suffer if the two sides cant resolve something. Its us, your kids, brothers, sisters, parents, neighbours. It’s us who will bear the consequences of your actions. Keep us in mind as you decide our future.
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Just curious to see why some people are saying the 16th for the strike, but lots of newspapers and relevent news articles are saying the walkout would be on the 11th and there would be no classes. Just wondering because it is always good to be able to plan for both possibilities especially if it is thursday next week for the strike.
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hey listen , as long as these dumbass teachers ( or at least they call themselves that!) (but anyone can teach college!) don’t pull the same shit that York University teachers aka professors ( if they even deserve that high profile title!) cause many of us students who are in fourth semester last year are arranging for jobs in the summer which end up in resulting to be full time positons like myself. I think that once again if these teachers didn’t want a full classroom then they should go back and teacher little kids in elementary school. Making us students wait too is unprofessional on their half because they are handing out projects and assignments that are due after we return from our family day long weekend. So making us work on these assignments and then to find out that we might be facing a strike upon returning from the long weekend? thats absured! Our questions for the facility is to strike or not to strike? when are they going to ( exact day!) and how long will the strike take place? the media coverage and the schools aren’t being prompt or giving any details pertaining to the strike, this site is good, I have been informing fellow senecan’s but its still not vaild. Many of my fellow college mates would like to know exact, especially those who are in programs which they are enrolled in co-op and have to attend a placement, they wanna inform them of the details…. thanks for listen everyone
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I’m sponsored in the program that I’m in , whats going to happen to us.
I graduate at the end of this term, what’s going to happen there.
I need to be able to finish, I need the sponsorship monetary backing right now, what’s going to happen to that, has the union even thought of what this is going to do to the students.
I’m very upset with what is happening, they need to settle.
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Heres the long and short of it to me: The union has been asked to allow the full time faculty to vote on the most recent offer. This suggestion was not only denied but barely even acknowledged. The last thing the union wants is for the faculty to vote for acceptance. If the contract was accepted by a vote of the full time faculty, the union reps would look stupid. They would lose a large amount of influence and people may even start to question whether the union is required at all. IMO The last thing that this strike is about is the students. We just seem to be pawns in a game of greed and politics.
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First off, I completely agree with the person who just told the people who WANT a strike off! Are you crazy, do you understand what exactly that means for you, because you are coming off ignorant. You should check on the consequences and what is really going on before you decide you want a strike for ‘vacation’ purposes. –Anyways, this is crazy, I am under so much extra stress because of this. The back and forth really has to stop because it has me racking my brain! It feels like I don’t know whether I’m coming or going, I wish they would just make their decision and put us students at rest… by reading the rest of these, I am not the only person feeling the ongoing pressure. I like most people believe that after all of this prolonging, that they are just going to strike and leave students wondering where their education goes from there. I just applied to university for the fall, and I really do not want to be penalized for the greediness of the profs who try to teach me ‘morals’ and knowledge that is going to provide me with the skills to survive in life. GOOD EXAMPLE YOU ARE SETTING. At Durham they say “Success Matters” —- really? Because Dear PROFS: Student success seems to be at the BACK of your mind doesn’t! Unfortunately us students cannot S CCEED WITHOUT U (get it, corny but think about it) SO grow up and make your decision! I’m tired of the extra, unnecessary stress!
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Just some info. For those saying the strike will begin on Feb. 16th if they do not reach agreement are wrong. The strike will begin on Feb 11. this is offically their 5 day notice but they are just giving us more notice then that to try to force the colleges hand. Also the longest that the strike could possibly go on for is 3 weeks 6 days because it is law that we are not allowed to lose our semester. If they do strike and they have not settled after 3 weeks 6 days then the ontario government will step in and force the teachers back to work but will not force an agreement on a contract so its all back to square 1
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“Nurse2B says:
The College’s likely WON’T go into arbitration. Check the Facebook group, there’s a lot of talk explaining why the College’s likely won’t agree to that right now. It’s also quite possible the College’s won’t even resume talks until the February 11th strike date.”
Which facebook group, there are many?
Do you care to summarize the opinions?
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Last week I overheard a rumor that the strike will begin one day after Family Day. That means the 16th Wonder how admun. knew this. All this talk is very distracting. Can’t get my work done!
Strike already! Apparently this has already been planned.
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“the union is willing to send all outstanding issues to binding arbitration if a settlement cannot be reached” so if a strike happens. it is 100% the fault of the colleges.
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This is ridiculous. So we pay our fees. We struggle through assignments and tests. We work for free in our placements.. What do we get now? We cant do work. We are not allowed to go to placements but we are still required to complete 300 hundred hours. Is this a joke? Why must they make us wait? Make the goddamn decision.
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Those of you who are looking forward to a break are obviously not graduating this year and therefore do not understand the severity of this impending strike. Like Medic said, the strike could last 1 week, 3 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, god only knows how long. And for all the students who are graduating this year, or supposed to graduate, this strike could mean absolute hell for them because if it lasts too long, we will lose our semester and have to wait a full year before being able to re-take our semester and finally graduate. This said, a long strike, over 6 weeks, will ruin our chances at finally starting our work life this summer and more than likely getting a full time job since we would have to return to finish our semester. Some of us actually have a placement this semester and if they strike, that will push our placement later in the year, keeping us from starting working in may. I seriously hope that no strike ensues but the way things are going, its sure isnt looking good.
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What a GREAT Birthday present… Thanks y’all…
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I just wish they would just decide what they are doing. It is frustrating. the longer they wait the more it ends up screwing the students over. I don’t see why they are being so selfish. ugh.
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Atlesast if they strike it will be the 16th, meaning it will be during reading week. Hopefully they can resolve something during that week. Keep your fingers crossed!
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If the students REALLY MATTER as you say then arbitrate and dont strike IF I lose my term I for one will sue for a tution FULL refund. I say all of us students should walk out in Protest before there deadline to screw us all. Oh and if you cancel our Winter break to make up the time Im sueing for my vacation costs as well.
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I’m a returning student and I have one simple question……. what ever happened to the day when people became teachers because they actually wanted to teach others? Here we are in the middle of an economic crisis and nobody wants to look at the big picture. Should we (not actually me, as I said I’m a student) not be trying to educate/re-educate in order to help people rebuild the economy? There are a lot of people out of work right now and, as usual, the union is out there saying it’s not about the money. Are we supposed to believe that? I haven’t seen all the interviews, but can anyone tell me what it’s about if not the money?
Maybe I am just feeling the need to vent. I have gone back to school to try and make things better for my family, my friends, and my community. Still, I cannot figure out why people have such a hard time looking past the end of their own noses. I think Dave Howlett put it best when he said “just do it because it’s the right thing to do.”
I guess what I am trying to say is (and I apologize this will sound lame) can we all not try and work together and put the community back into the community college? Webster’s dictionary gives a definition of community as “a body of persons or nations having a common history or common social, economic, and political interests” I think that says a lot right there.
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The main disagreement in this dispute is over WORKLOAD and not wages. OPSEU actually offered to take a wage cut to make the point. Wouldn’t students like 1 instructor to 60 students versus 150 students? Wouldn’t students like 1 section for practical skills having 10 students versus 30 students? Wouldn’t students like to see a Professor marking 60 essays versus 160 essays? Workload equals quality folks and students get more qulaity and bang for their buck when workload is at least reasonable. What about that instructor that is fresh out of college teaching you students? Wouldn’t you like a full time Professor with 30 years work experience in your field of study with a masters or doctoral degree versus a BA degree or less? Part time instructors only get paid structly for the hours they teach you. They spend tons of hours preparing and marking exams, but don’t get paid nothing for prep and eval. Part time and full time faculty deeply care about their students and that’s why we are pushing for the workload issue.
A task force on workload was paid for by the College/ OPSEU and the task force on workload was directed by an arbitrator from the last faculty strike. The task force made many recommendations on workload to give students better quality and more contact time with their instructors. Few of these recommendations were followed and here we are with the College totally disregarding the workload recommendations. The College says they are making NO CHANGES TO WORLOAD and folks that is the key isssue right there, that they refuse to make any changes to the workload.
Curious Big Ears empathizes with you, and one day you folks you will be in the work force and perhaps in a unionized environment too. Management tries to get the best bang for their buck and the only hope an instructor has is their union. Lets face it, if mangement had their way, there would be a lot less full time professors and many more part time instructors. Also, those instructors would teach not only to the class in front of them, but also to another 400 students in the world watching through their computers. Faculty are trying to make things better for the students and has little or anything to do with wages. Yes, and we will be on the picket lines Feb 11th if the College management does not agree to binding arbitration. There will be no 5 or 10 day extension past the 11th, no more delays folks, the 11th is the day.
Curious Big Ears thinks that the semester may be prolonged a bit, but no students semester will be lost. The Minister of Education MUST intervene when they feel the student’s semester in is jeopardy. Curious Big Ears even thinks that just maybe the College may have enough pressure put on them to agree to binding arbitration on this workload issue too and there may be NO STRIKE. Either way, the faculty will have a heavy heart for the students out there if they must walk the countless hours in the cold. After this is settled, faculty may benefit, but who will benefit most is you students and the many students that will come after you. If there happens to be no settlement by the 11th day, then Curious Big Ears think the strike will end March 2nd.
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I have to pay my own tuition to an education. And now I’m not getting my money’s worth because teachers think they don’t get paid enough.
Either way we, the students, lose. Sooner or later the colleges will have provide the demands of the union. This will probably trigger an increase in tuition costs because where else will the colleges get the extra money?
In this economic situation where people are losing their jobs left, right, and centre, these guys are asking for a raise. There are a lot of adult learners in my school because they were laid off. These are people with a family that needs a roof over their heads, clothes on their shoulders and food on the table. One would think going back to school would be a great way the better their lives but clearly the union doesn’t care about that.
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so when will we finally get to knw tht the colleges r goin on strike?? This week? we should get to know about this this week i think.. our mind will be set on 1 thing….. man this is soooooooooo fruatrating………… still we have 2 wait n wait.. till when.. dun knw… TELL US NOWWWWWWWWWWWW………………………
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I am a college student in my first year, and although the thought of a strike worries me just the same as it worries many other students, I am glad the teachers are holding out for a better contract.
Without teachers, where would our society be? Are they really asking for that much? Wouldn’t you fight for what you believed in? Have you educated yourself about what teachers are asking for in addition to fair salary increases?
An increase of 2.5% per year! Peanuts! Think about how you would feel if you worked in a job/career that gave you one raise a year, which equated to less than the cost of living increase. An increase of 2.5% on an annual salary of $70,000 equals about $34 a week.
Take a few minutes and read the Offer vs Proposal; maybe you’ll change how you feel.
I support the college teachers of Ontario; the Council needs to get their head out of their butts!
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I go to St Lawrence College and was quite happy to see that my college’s staff had the highest vote AGAINST the strike mandate.
The biggest issue affecting me is that if the college faculty do strike, we are unable to complete the hours necessary for our work placements. There are also those who have serious amounts of lab time to complete.
I know there are a lot of people out there who complain that not being able to go to class would jeopardize their learning and make tests worth more as a part of the semester completion plans that colleges implement. My response to that is that students have plenty of time to read ahead, complete assignments, study, etc in the event of a strike. But if we don’t have our work placement coordinator, we are not able to complete hours towards our requirement to graduate. And if we are unable to log the hours, we are forced to work into the summer doing our placements instead of working in the workforce after graduation.
At the very least if a prolonged strike is expected, it is my suggestion that the colleges and OPSEU at least allow work placement coordinators (or suitable substitutes) the ability to coordinate placement work, allowing students to complete the necessary hours for placements (or other requirements where a set amount of practical time is required). This should be a substancial component of the semester completion plans.
There are many ways class time and learning materials can be caught up to complete the semester, but placements involving hundreds of required hours can’t be caught up in a couple weeks.
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SO they are saying they are not in it for the money, that they are just trying to ” Modernize colleges” Then why in hell are they trying to push for higher wages??? Really, we may be students, but were not oblivious to this rip off.
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Everyone, don’t get fooled by the 16th as the date for the strike. There are so many other reputable sources that say the 11th is the walkoff. So by Midnight on Feb 10th, without settlement they will be on strike. Start looking up the real facts and prepare yourselves for both the possibility of a strike and not. Don’t give up your school work but at the same time don’t kid yourselves and pretend it won’t happen. Work hard and cross your fingers.
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This is really sad and childish of both sides, the teachers (that are in favor of the strike, just to be clear. I know some teachers just want more student time, which is definably needed and the college should give them more time. This is more about the ridiculous pay increase they want) and the colleges. Both sides a…nd nothing but greedy leeches on society. In the last offer the colleges offered 5.9% over 3 years, which is more that what most of the population gets, if any. Inflation is at most 2% a year, so it nice to see that their willing to throw away their number one reason for being teachers for some little pay increase. and the colleges are no better. Google “Sunshine list” and go to the first link and click on colleges. This site list every public official who makes over $100,000/year. You’ll see that EVERY president is making almost or well over $200,000/year and some over $300,000. Let alone all the administration staff make at least $100,000, including some teachers.
I’m fortunate enough to have profs that actually care about the students, but I know of many teachers who just treat their students like numbers, or care about just the smart kids in class. Just because a student doesn’t understand a subject, doesn’t mean they should be treated differently. Help them, spend some extra time with them(this is where I can understand and support the teachers cry for more time with students) and actually put an effort into it. Even through my profs are helpful. it takes them forever to do anything (marking, feedback, etc..) Its not my fault my coordinator has a business on the side.
If you teach, make your students your number one priority, salary second. Its bad enough that almost half of the students I see don’t care about their studies and actually hoping for a strike(which is a good idea of where we as humans are going to end up 30 years from now…) This is just one side trying to make the other side look bad, the colleges with making the teachers vote and the union not letting them and the union saying its up to the colleges now because “they don’t want a strike”
And for the colleges, wake up and smell the roses and see how good you got it. It is a proven fact that enrollment goes up in a recession. I heard that there’s somewhere 20% increase in enrollment over the last year because of the recession. And yet they still up the tuition? The people who are more often to go back to school are parents trying to better themselves for their families. Or parents sending their kids to school in hopes they can get a good job and have a good life? They don’t seem to care that these people are most hardest hit by the recession. In my program (Comp. Security and Investigations) we were promised a separate lab so we can do out school work in. Which makes sense when we pay almost $6000 in tuition (up from $5000 3 years ago). But them all the other IT students have classes in there and they only pay $3000! I don’t mind sharing, but why is my tuition so high when you not doing anything different!! I don’t want their tuition any higher, I want mine lowered if your not going to do anything different for us!
If a strike does occur, EVERY student out their picketing both the teachers and colleges. Its US who pay all the cash that is go into their pockets, so we should have a say too! We HAVE the RIGHT to defend what we are paying millions of dollars into and don’t let anybody, or yourself, make you believe differently!
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I have been following these events very closely. I think I can clarify things a little bit:
1. Strike date is set for Feb. 11. The union gave the colleges their notice today (10 days before the potential strike, instead of 5). That means if their isn’t an agreement before next Thursday, the strike starts Thursday.
2. I don’t think any of us wants a strike. I don’t consider teachers as greedy- if you look at both sides monetary offers they are within a 1/2 of a percent of eachother. The teachers want the college system to reflect the times. The colleges want to save money. Both sides should go to binding arbitration as the union suggested, thus our education will not be in jeopardy.
3. In the 2006 strike, the colleges saved over 1 million dollars a day. If they don’t agree to arbitration; there will be a strike perhaps revealing that the colleges would rather save money than our educations.
4. I think we should all send e-mails to our college presidents encouraging them to agree to arbitration, so we all can get on with our educations.
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Think about those international students who are planning to go back to their country to visit and have already bought their tickets. Please, just reach an agreement to avoid any hassle for the students as well as the faculty members. I’m sure teachers don’t want to stand outside on a picket line during the freezing winter season…
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“If they don’t, then midnight on the 10th of February, we’ll be on strike,” he said. “We’re going to have to start preparing for a strike (Tuesday). The sooner management decides what they want to do, the less anxiety there will be on campuses.”
That is from ‘http://www.orilliapacket.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2367670′ …. so everyone has said it would be the 16th, but according to this newspaper it isn’t.
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This is insanity. I attend Sheridan and an agreement has already been reached. As is the case at a few other colleges. It is completely unfair that because other schools are not willing to negotiate I’m out on the street.
And I’m pretty sure that it’s 5 working days to give notice. So if that’s true then the strike will not begin until the 19th of February (if you include the 11th and the 15th is a holiday).
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..this is so RIDICULOUS!!! Make a damn decision already…I’ve found myself to have such a hard time getting back into “study” mode since Christmas…this strike is only going to make my situation worse. So please, give us an answer so I can give myself a swift kick in the ass and apply myself. This whole suspense of a strike isn’t the best motivation.
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just kind of want to throw this out there…
This is f’d- so the DEADLINE is feb 11th… if we dont have an agreement by then are we going to have another deadline? because i thought today was the deadline you guys gotta get your shit together, how about the teachers give in because they arent worth what they are getting paid as it is!!!!!!!!!! GROW UP Eh
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This is riddiculous! Just resolve it already! This has gone on way too long.
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I’m with everyone else in the sense that I just want a final decision. I was talking to some classmates today about it–we’ve had this strike hanging over our heads since the beginning of the year…even before the holidays. I’m beyond the point of caring whether or not a strike happens, just for the love of God, make up your minds!
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big deal, so theres a strike, extra time to stay at home, or work to get money, the worst that can happen is that we dont finish in april it will be may or june
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WTF?
I thought we’re supposed to have the final agreement… holding it off again?!?!? man….and then on February 11th, they’re going to set another date to march, and then april….wtf…POINTLESS. is this some sort of spoof, cuz this isn’t funny.
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I normally dont take the time to write a comment, but it is difficult to find good information on this topic today. You did a fantastic job in this post and I may just go read your other blog posts now. Keep writing!
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I think the reason they didn’t go on strike in January was so the wouldn’t have to reinbers the students. That would cost them Millions but instead they would rather keep our money and watch us ruin our futures. This isn’t fair or Right to any of the students who want to learn.
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And the teachers say it’s not about wages…yeah ok haha!
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Wishing for a strike to have an extra week off to complete assignments is ridiculous… its your fault if you can’t get your homework done on your own time.
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man like we already had a bus strike in london the last thing i want is a school strike like like get it together and let us know what is going to happen
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As if we have to wait for thursday now
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We the students should show a united front and go on strike ourselves. This is now about us taking our own future into our hands. A united front against this immature behaviour taking place on both sides.
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Contact the Colleges and demand that they go to binding arbitration to avoid a strike!!!
http://thecouncil.on.ca/contact
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what are the chances of the union striking?
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you know what? I almost want to say give up already, if you want to act like 6 year olds that don’t even know the meaning of fair, and not fair, its stupid to continue!!! I don’t know and I really don’t give a thought to this all! this better be the last time…. we are all fed up, and have waited since before the new year. We are tired, fed up, and over worked students!!!! Get this bloody over with!!!
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anyone else feel like this is a role reversal of handing your home work in late?
when we dont do something on time we get punished by depleating grades, nice to see the same doesnt apply to teachers
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Oh, so does this mean if there still isn’t any agreement made before Feb 11, then they will start the strike? Actually, I don’t wanna the strike will be happened because I want to go back to my hometown earlier.
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I am DISGUSTED!!! I think that the colleges should just strike already or don’t strike. The students just want to know what the hell is going to happen and the way they are prolonging this is just bull. I’m sure like myself, other students were anxious for today because we all thought we were going to find out whether or not there would be a strike. We all thought that this prolonging process was going to be over today. When I heard that we now have to wait another week it sickened me because I just want to know already!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Waste of time! theyre going to go on strike…. its happened before itll happen again and theyll just use us as pawns!
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Can someone explain what going into binding arbitration means?
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this is ridiculous! im a mcmaster student at conestoga all my teachers are mcmaster profs and they wont cross a picket line so because of the colleges going on strike we do too! for those who keep asking it was clearly stated that if they decide on the 11th to go on strike the strike will BEGIN on the 16TH!!!
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This is so frustrating! Why do they keep pushing it back? We want to know now rather than later!
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great way to hamper young college students future. I guess the saying “kids are our future” does not apply to college students who regardless of age will become part of the country’s driving force. Its pitiful how these professors who earn more than 50 000 a year want a bigger slice of the pie, while low income families struggle each day to get a crumb of that pie. In the end it all comes to selfishness and greediness, but i am not fretting, because from this day on i will never give a prof the dignity and respect they don’t deserve. go on strike, because it will tarnish YOUR reputations more than anyone in this ordeal, have a nice life you GREEDY PIGS
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For those of you who say you want a strike cause a week off would be great, are you clinically insane?? There is no guarantee it will be only a week, it could be 3 weeks, it could be 3 months. Obviously you people who want a ‘break’ don’t really understand the severity of this situation. The longer the strike goes on, the worse it is for us students. we will either play catch up in the summer, or lose our semester all together and I would be livid if I lost my semester. This whole thing is crap and those of you who want a strike are clearly not ready or mature enough for college. And buddy who has porjects due in 3rd year, cry me a river. We all have stuff due and things to study for, you signed up for college so if you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen.
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It Appears the only reason the union setup this “strike deadline” is, neither side is willing to send the faculty to a vote.
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Union wants binding arbitration, if I were on the college side, I would say no because I know I would lose. The 5 days notice puts it to the 16th of Februrary is the earliest strike date. I am a graduating student and I am studying hard now because if the strike lasts long, I know that teachers could make my final exam 50% of my mark (in order to graduate on time). Doesn’t look good right now….
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Personally I’m completely disgusted by this. In London we had to deal with a month-long transit strike from mid-November until mid-December, the buses getting back on the road the day after exams finished. Unions don’t have a place in society today and this year is a prime example of that. The unions aren’t protecting their employees, they’re taking advantage of the students’ vulnerability. I hope the teachers’ union doesn’t take a cue from the transit union and wait until it’s the most inconvenient for the students before they go on strike.
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any idea when the colleges will respond to the union’s press conference ?
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Nope, but as soon as we hear anything from the colleges this site will be updated.
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The College’s likely WON’T go into arbitration. Check the Facebook group, there’s a lot of talk explaining why the College’s likely won’t agree to that right now. It’s also quite possible the College’s won’t even resume talks until the February 11th strike date.
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hey admin just wondering if you could clear something up would the earliest day of a strike starting be the 12th or the 16th?
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It is our understanding that if there is no agreement in place by the 11th that OPSEU would officially give notice to the colleges and strike five days from then, so after ‘Family Day’.
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The strike deadline is technically giving them 5 days notice but I know it doesnt count.
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QUIT or GO to work. Due to the recent recession, alot of people do not have jobs. Teachers in colleges are lucky they still have a job and union to bargain with. What more do you guys want. You only work 8 months of the year, get summers and holidays off and take forever to mark our work. You get paid all year even whey you guys are sitting on your buts. I believe its quite overzealous to ask for anything more. As if you teachers did not realize what you were getting into when you accepted your job. Geez like i said. If you don’t like your career than get out of it.
peace work it out
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Ok, thanks. Hopefully there is a strike, I need some time off!!!!!!!!!!!!
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They’ll more then likely follow the Arbitration process… the colleges true agenda will be revealed and proof of their primary interests will be revealed if they don’t. If this is about providing better education for students while attempting to receive more appropriate compensation then removing education through strike is simply not addressing the overall goal of this movement. Lets try and Settle this with the students in mind. This is my last term as a college student and I intend on starting my new life as a graduate at the end of this term without delay.
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Teachers should not be able to strike because we as students are PAYING for a seat. this makes going to college very unappealing. this is the second time I have encountered a strike. last time you guys went so I know your going to go this time.. SO JUST DO IT AND STOP CRYING
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why 5 days after the deadline?
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In the Colleges Collective Bargaining Act it states that the union must give the colleges five days notice of a strike, so they would be giving notice on the 11th.
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obviously Im against the fiasco being a student in my graduating year
But if they are going to strike, just hurry up and do it or not already, all this back and forth is insane.
way to teach us about the real world people, where apparently if we dont like something we can just go on strike, real professional people real professional.
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Ok, Thanks!
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in other words… hurry up and wait… GREAT
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this is stupid. they keep prolonging this.
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Stop messing around and make a decision. I feel as if this were a yo yo.. Im anxious and resistant about school. Studying for tests is a bit distracted by this bull. its like watching two children fighting over a toy. Both sides need to stop being stubborn, becusae they are affecting more students than teachers. Second, I did not pay for an anxious resistent attachment for school. I’m mad.. just strike if you want. A few days extra is not going to change the outcome cause you guys are a bunchy of babies
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Does February 11th then represent the day they will give us the “five days notice”? Or is that the date they will begin striking should they not settle beforehand? Five days from Feb 11th would mean strike begins the 16th, the day after Family Day.
I’d also like to say that I’m very frustrated with this. The University of Guelph-Humber hires 50% Humber College faculty and 50% Guelph University faculty. Should the colleges go on strike, all of our classes are still affected despite where our prof is employed. No one wants to cross picket lines! I graduate in April and cannot afford a delay – I gotta get myself into that workplace to secure a job!!!
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A press conference for that?
Press conferences should further be reserved for negotiation settlements or strike start deadlines. I guess now we wait for the “final” final offer?
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Does that mean there is a strike Feb 11??
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No, if there isn’t a new agreement by the 11th then the strike would begin five days from than which is the 16th.
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Wouldn’t it be great if people could make up their minds? Why do they keep giving them the option to try to reach an agreement over and over again. This isn’t going anywhere and we’re sick and tired of waiting to hear about this. If you’re not going to get the result you want, shut your mouth and either accept the offer they’ve given you or quit your damn job!
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So basically the union won’t take a stand but wants the colleges to look like the bad guys… Got to love the political games we play…
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One way or another, It would be nice to FINALLY have an answer, all of this waiting and dragging it out is frustrating and stressful to students who need to know their fates this semester.
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Is it me or does it seem like OPSEU is pushing the unions patience ???
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Looks to me as if the union is losing and going to plan B. Which is not a bad thing for us students, but then again, I wouldn’t mind having a week of a strike. For some of us third year students, we have a lot of projects and stuff to focus on. An extra week would provide us ample time to get it done and postpone any testing or other assignments. Just my two scents.
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well that’s just great. Hopefully we get a strike-less resolution
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So if they cannot come to an agreement by February 11th, that is when the strike will commence?
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Honestly, either youre going to strike or not. Theres no sense in pushing it back and making students wonder whether or not their education is going to be screwed over. Make a decision NOW,everyone is sick of waiting on your foolishness.
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Whatever, they don’t have the balls to go on strike. Just bunch of threats.
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Knew this would happen
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Very interesting, I guess we will see how firm the Colleges were on that being there “Final Offer’
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more waiting…wonderful
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Arbitration please… don’t be stubborn.
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