The college’s bargaining team has just issued a press release in which they state that they have asked the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) to begin preparations for a ‘final’ offer vote. A date for the vote will be set by the OLRB, but the colleges have asked that the Board expedite the process to ensure that faculty have an opportunity to vote on the offer before OPSEU’s strike date of February 11th.
Also, the colleges have rejected the Unions proposal of going to binding arbitration. Dr. Donovan, chair of the bargaining team said, “binding arbitration is not the answer. We believe the right approach is to allow the faculty an opportunity to vote on this offer, not to bypass them by giving the responsibility to a third party.”
Update…
OPSEU has issued a press release encouraging their members to vote NO to the ‘final’ offer by the colleges. And has stated that they are prepared to move their strike deadline so that members can vote as long as the vote can be arranged on or before February 12th.
Update…
The Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) has set February 10th, 2010 as the date for all full-time academic staff to vote on the college’s ‘final’ offer.
Update…
OPSEU has just announced that they are moving their strike deadline to February 17th, 2010.
the wise thing to do is to just complete the school work and carry on like there is no talk of a strike… but you know what??? im just starting to not care anymore!!! im just so sick and tired of all this bull!! i just dont even want to do any school work or even try anymore because i feel it just might be pointless at the end if they strike and it goes on forever.
I JUST WANT THEM TO MAKE A DAMN DECISION ALREADY!!! is that too much to ask??
i agree with some of the other comments above, this whole thing is too secretive. it makes me laugh when they say they are keeping us informed. thats a joke! why did it take me all day to find out about the strike update??
i have had a very rough year! got laid off!… fought for 6 freagin months to get funding to go back to school!!…. and now this!?!?!?!?
trust me, it would be nice to get a break from school… i go to placement and im constantly sick from the little drool and snot machine children there (gotta love ‘em! though!)… and the stress from personal/school life, etc…etc…. but i would much rather just get this semester over and done with!
they are lucky enough to even have great jobs, have steady income, all holidays off and freagin 2 months of the year off too!! not to mention all the other perks im sure like health benefits!!! …WHEN OTHERS, LIKE ME, ARE STRUGGLING TO START OVER AGAIN BECAUSE THEY HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS!!!
yes, i know, its tough, soooo tough to be a teacher now a days, i cant even imagine… and im not being sarcastic, i sincerely feel for them.
but if you are really doing this for our benefit then try to put yourself in our shoes and think about how we might feel if worse comes to worse and we have to lose a semester and not even get our money back. (wow, run on sentence!)
anyway, i can go on. sorry if i have offended anyone… and yes, i know i made some spelling mistakes to say the least but you get the picture, and this is how i feel.
thanks for reading!
(song-Everybody’s Free to Wear Sunscreen) by Mary Schmich:
‘Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don’t.’
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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Uhhhhh Ya!
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uhhhhhh ya
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If they go on strike, maybe the arbitrator will let the Union see the books to see whether the College’s can afford the Union’s demands.
Of course the Union is encouraging faculty to vote against the final offer, the Union must retain solidarity,
I can only hope that each faculty member reads the final offer and makes up their own mind instead of being lemmings.
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I meant February 17, 2010 as the strike date. My sincere apologies for the error.
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The following was pulled from the College’s official bargaining site (emphasis mine):
What Happens If the Final Offer Is Rejected
***Rejecting the final offer means faculty will be on strike. ***
***Contrary to what the union has been claiming, rejecting the offer will not result in further negotiations, arbitration or any modified position from the colleges.*** OPSEU knows this. We were clear when the final offer was presented that we were making these adjustments in a last effort to avoid a strike. It is why we have asked for a vote on the proposed collective agreement.
The colleges have gone as far as they can to meet the union’s demands in this current environment.
***The colleges will not agree to binding arbitration.*** Asking a third party to write a contract does not change the economic circumstance of the colleges or our students.
The colleges believe the right thing to do is to give the faculty the democratic opportunity to have their say through a vote. We hope they will support the settlement we have offered.
FROM: http://www.thecouncil.on.ca/documents/ACAD_BARG_FinalOfferVote_20100210_E.pdf
The following was pulled from the official OPSEU site (Negotiating team for the Faculty Union) (emphasis mine):
February 9, 2010
TORONTO – The union representing faculty in Ontario’s 24 community colleges is calling on the employer to return to the bargaining table if a majority of their members reject the last received offer received from the Colleges on February 10.
***Ted Montgomery, chair of the OPSEU bargaining team for the faculty, says that the team has recommended members reject the offer, and wants to negotiate a fair collective agreement for the faculty.***
“The offer from the employer is not acceptable,” Montgomery said. “However, we are emphatic that a settlement can be reached at the negotiating table without any work stoppage that will affect the students’ year.”
Montgomery is again urging the Colleges to submit all outstanding issues to binding arbitration if a settlement cannot be reached.
“Our union only wants improvements that will enhance and ensure quality education for Ontario’s college students,” Montgomery said. “We are ready to bargain, and ready to go to binding arbitration if bargaining fails.”
***OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas says the decision whether or not to stop classes for 200,000 students rests solely with the Colleges.***
“Our union is ready to bargain, or arbitrate,” Thomas said. “We have the students’ best interests at the forefront, and we have the solutions to prevent any interruption to the school year. If our members vote to reject this offer, we are ready and willing to settle this agreement…providing the Colleges come back to the bargaining table.”
FROM: http://www.opseu.org/news/press2010/feb-9-2010.htm
So…what does this all mean?
It can be infered from the faculty at the college (specifically Loyalist, in this case) that said faculty will REJECT the offer. This is primarily due to the Union requesting that their members do just that.
So, unless a miracle occurs and the faculty accept the offer, the teachers will be on strike as of Wednesday February 11, 2010.
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Everyone still is rushing and panicing. Just stop and think. something is going to happen one way or the other. We as students need to let the teachers solve their problems, and trust that they will come back to teaching as soon as possible. The teachers in my opion need to stop and think about what is happening and how it is affecting us and them and their families. We are in this together and right now we are headed for a lose lose situation, yes there will eventually be a conclusion but in whose favor? I do not even know if they know what they want. The longer this goes on the worse everyone will be.
If anyone has anything to contribute to my contributions, I will be cheking the website again sometime before 9 O’clock tonight and then again everyday until the issue is resolved, please give me your opinon.
P.S.
sorry for any spelling and grammor errors.
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to @bob
FIRST, ITS NOT CALLED READING WEEK ITS CALLED WINTER BREAK, and if we go by your logic I shouldn’t have had to do any homework during that week because its called a break but oh well I did and your a moron with poor reading comprehension.
I’m not complaining that I had to do homework during that week I’m complaining that fanshawe stupidly condensed my program into 2 years instead of 3 and it screws me for summer employment and winter breaks, sorry I ranted but having a 4 day weekend between semesters when everyone else had over a month is adding unneccesary stress to an already difficult program.
I guess that the 18 week programs would be broken down differently in the case of a strike than the 15 week ones but our coordinator told us 1 week, reading week cancelled, 2 weeks exam week cancelled and marks are redistributed based on entire semester, 3 weeks we work harder.
If they do strike the first week is going to be spent doing homework mostly anyways just so I’m fully caught up with no worries about going back but even just 2 weeks of striking would be a nice relief (also we have a couple classes with exams worth almost 50%, it would be nice to have that redistributed throughout the semester)
Thanks for the response about the 17th, but does anyone know why there is no documentation ANYWHERE supporting the 17th as the strike date, everything from fanshawes site, to this site, to OPSEU site, to every newspaper site in ontario all say feb 11 strike deadline and I haven’t seen the 17th mentioned anywhere except by word of mouth from some fellow students and the occasional little blurb about it on here. I’ve pretty much been trying to find a definitive answer for that all day between my classes and now again that class is over (ya ya i should be doing homework i know)
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Well what can you do
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This is to @Bob, you dont like students complaining about thier homework and how they want time off ect. EVERY student has a right to their opinions, just as much as you do. You may not agree to them, and thats fine, but dont sit at your computer making comments about how much it annoys you. Please keep comments like that to yourself and focus on the strike at hand and not how some students are hoping for something you are not.
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In response to your first paragraph, you talk about needing a break and how you want a week off without having to worry about work due. It’s called a READING week for a reason. It’s made to give you time to study and do projects. Sure some people don’t have as much to do but don’t start complaining that you need time off. Plus, if they strike, you will get time off…..probably not the best situation but at least you’ll get to rest. Anyway, just to say I hate it when people complain about have homework during that week off. You’re a student. Get over it. Do your 18 weeks and you’ll be done.
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@bob
The faculty votes today (Wed) whether to go on strike on Feb 17 if there is no agreement by then.
A rumour I heard is that if the vote to strike is yes, the colleges and the union will appear to “talk” but a strike is likely to happen (on Feb 17).
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Bob,
I don’t know where you got your info. Going by what I was told today. If they strike and depending on how long it goes, it works like this.
You are right, reading week (March 1-5) is cancelled (it would suck for me since I planned a getaway that week).
If the strike goes for let’s say 2 weeks, the latest rumour I have heard is condensed work, final exams are a go (term marks may have more weight-depending on program).
If the strike goes for 3 or more weeks….EEK. It may mean finals are worth as much as 60% of final mark (this depends on program and how much work was already done).
Could I use a break? Sure. But I am graduating this spring and I am now receiving interviews/job offers. I’d hate to lose an offer because of the potential teachers strike.
I’m in a 15 week program.
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Personally I’m all for this strike, just because I’m in an 18 week program and we had a whole 1 week for winter break (most of which was spent doing the homework that was due the week after) followed by a week of classes then a week of exams then second semester, meanwhile my roommates had something like december 7th to jan 11th off with no homework or exams to worry about……………..I NEED A BREAK BECAUSE I AM STRESSING HARD RIGHT NOW.
Anyways, from the way the teachers described it at fanshawe it doesn’t seem like we would lose much of any time, just a rearrangement.
Instead of reading week, we get 1 week of striking, if the strike goes 2 weeks exams get cancelled and everything else from the semester counts towards final grade only and we use exam week as a week of classes. If the strike goes 2 weeks we end up losing nothing. If it goes 3 weeks we have to work a little bit harder to catch up. To me this seems worth it, I would love a 3 week vacation right now and I have no issues with working a little harder to catch up. 4 weeks and we would probably need to extend the semester by a week but unless your in an 18 week program you have an extra week at the end of april before your leases expire anyways (18 weeks im stuck until may 28th). I do feel bad for the people that are going to be fully screwed by this because I’m sure that some programs are set up in a way that this will completely kill a semester for some people but I have a feeling the majority are the ones who will just have to work a little harder to catch up, and after they just had over a month off, screw em I want a break.
Whats bothering me is no one seems to know when this strike is going to happen, everything i read from newspapers to this site (articles not posts) to fanshawes student websites all say the 11th, but i read through the posts here, talk to friends or talk to some teachers and they say the 17th………….
Should I plan on going to school tomorrow or not? I have no idea and I find contradicting points about it everywhere
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@jose
“pension which doubles every 7 years or so.”.
I assume you are talking about a defined benefit pension which I think are evil.
All pensions should be defined contribution.
Sure, defined benefit is better for the employee (and that is why unions negotiate them) but it can cause financial difficulty to the employer (eg. GM).
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I am deeply saddened and disapointed that after deciding to return to school after ten years and having to fight to be here that I, and many others, will be robbed of the precious time we have to focus on our education.
The particular field I am attempting to enter requires many hours of hands on practice which we will never get since some teachers are more concerned about themselves and their retirement than actually giving us a chance to have a decent life. We need a proper education, which we foolishly paid for anyway, and condensed courses won’t cut it.
I sincerely hope that I will not be robbed of employment later on in my life when someone else gets the because they have more knowledge and hands on experience than I do.
Give us a chance to have a life too!
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i think if the staff want to go on strike its for a good reason, its better for our future so let them hlp the future students.
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@ Rebecca Crouter
Please read more carefully, never did I once assume you were stupid, I said what you are saying makes you look stupid.
There is a very big difference.
And I am not misinformed on unions as I was in a major union before, my benefits and pension plan were among the best in the country, I would of been able to retire very comfortably. I will never have access to anything like that again. How is that a bad thing to have amazing benefits and pension plans?
I’m confused aat how you think. Look at the plumbers union $36 an hour, $5 an hour to benefits and $5 an hour to your pension which doubles every 7 years or so.
How is that bad? you are nuts. Now you tell me you would not take that for your job! get real
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@jose
Unions do great things for workers, and offer the best benefit, and retirement plans for their works. They also ensure workers overtime and a fair wage.
What is wrong with rewards based on performance and quitting a job that you think treats you unfairly?
If the colleges are so bad, why don’t the teachers quit?
The answer is … because there are a lot of qualified candidates that would love that job.
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To the teachers I have but one question, as you are educating us (the youth of today) for future employment. “IF I DO NOT GET WHAT I WANT AT WORK, SHOULD I FORM A UNION AND THREATEN TO STRIKE?” Please lead by example and try to be reasonable. You are using your students which you obviously don’t care about (generalized statement as some profs are opposed to this looming strike) as pawns or negotiating chips. Way to lead by example!!!
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So how long will it take for the votes from tommorow to be tallied, and if they are no does that mean a few days of negotiations or a strike??
Im sure it is on here somwhere but I do not have time to read 150 posts of swearing and poor grammar.
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We should have the unofficial results of the vote late tomorrow night or early Thursday morning. If the offer is rejected I’m not sure the colleges will go back to the bargaining table as they have stated that they have nothing left to offer, so if its rejected than more than likely we’re headed for a strike.
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So when the 17th comes and they postpone it again. what then?
This is a joke. Good unions or not so good unions. They shouldnt be able to stop working.
There are so many Students, young and older. I think that these unions should come into our classrooms and see that half the faculty can’t produce as much as their current salaries are worth.
And when the 17th comes along and they go on strike or vote again, or maybe settle it on paper scissors rock. Ill be havin a brew sayin cheers, heres to the faculty who gets paid up the ass, and heres to the colleges who rack in on all of our tuition money.
I see only one loser here. peace.
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Go on strike already
Vegas is waiting for me
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Sometimes you have to put yourselves in someone elses shoes. I am a student at mohawk.
As a student – It sucks that we are deeply effected in this situation. In the end, we are going to loose a lot by this strike.
To have a career in teaching – going on strike means hundreds of dollars a week will be lost. Also, this is your career.. how you live. Being unsatisfied with your job is never a good thing. If I where in the same position I would be pushing for my wants also.
Do I want this strike to happen? absolutely not. But do I want to see a large percentage of teachers & instructors unsatisfied with their job? no. As a student, I am in school only for a few years. As a teacher, they are dealing with these conditions their whole life.
I just hope something is achieved in the end with this strike and demands are met.
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The strike goes much deeper than missing a few weeks of school only to go back and extend the semester. If there is a strike, I lose placement for my kids’ daycare. So when the strike is over I will no longer be able to return to class because I will have no place for my children. Thanks, in advance, to the union for royally screwing with people’s lives.
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jose – so misinformed its unbelieveable.
Unions have been losing their use ever since the industrial revolution was seceding, near the end of the reagan-era and the institution of “reaganism” (which is now considered to be a dirty term in some circles). To call someone stupid and insult their credentials on a forum such as this proves you are no more a saint than a sinner my friend. Get informed.
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Notimpressed,
It will depend on your teacher, you, and where you are doing your placement.
I’m in Early Childhood Education at a private daycare and if the strike occurs i will continue to go to placement as i normally would but my teacher is also part time so she is not technically included in the strike.
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please excuse my spelling errors in my previous post, I was raging because this fool rebecca posted her credentials, thinking what she says means something.
Unions are great, just the teachers union appears to have an absolute douche for a leader..
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How about a class action lawsuit against ? 200,000 would be educated students need to band together to do this! Every so often a strike affects those who pay thousands of dollars for an education, and we continue to pay with our futures.
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@Jose
I love how you make assumptions based on what I must assume to be faulty logic. How could you possibly know the financial state of my family, when not even I know?
I am not trashing unions, I am not in favour of them. I believe they once served a purpose, but I no longer see a purpose for them.
I will not engage you any further, nor will I detract from the purpose of this forum, aside from saying this: you are welcome to assume that I am “stupid” and “uneducated”, but remember…to assume makes an “ass out of you and me”, and my friend, you have already proven yourself to be an ass.
Congratulations on a job well done!
Rebecca A. M. Crouter; C.C.C.T., D.C.S.E., C/MCpl (Rt’d)
Community and Justice Services Worker student – year 2
Loyalist College of Applied Arts and Technology
Belleville, Ontario
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@Rebecca A. M. Crouter
Obviously you come from a poor family who has never had success or the benefits of a union and are jealous!
Unions fo great things for workers, and offer the best benefit, and retirement plans for their works. They also ensure workers overtime and a fair wage.
What this union is doing is a joke, and it is a dirty move.
But to trash unions because you have never received the amazing benefits they can offer just makes you look stupid and uneducated. Don’t post your crap creditials, becuase they mean nothing when you don’t have an open mind probably becuase like most people you are either poor or jealous they get paid more and protect you. Unions are amazing, just not this one.
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im just worried a =bout the future and if it will affect this years students coming into college
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What is going to happen to everyone that is on placement?
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strike already
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i say all the studends should go walk out and see how much shit hits the fan than….
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it reminds me of that time in band camp, where we watched paint dry………….
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like com’on ppl,,,, i am sick and tired of waiting, NIKE it up,, Just do it,,,,or not,,, but hurry the f up cause i hate this…………
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“Jerry says:
February 4, 2010 at 12:52 am
Nobody knows anything”
The “bargaining” process is too secretive.
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“Student Project says:
February 7, 2010 at 9:49 pm
As part of a school assignment can anyone answer this for me please:
You you feel that work load has been rushed in the recent weeks?”
No, but I’m sure it will be if they strike.
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This is all bullshit, lets just effin strike already or not, so i can decide whether or not to go to fuckin class
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….college staff nothing to do .and nothing can do right?
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I must qualify my comments with the following: I am very much anti-union. I believe that unions have no place in Canadian Society today, and as such, I am against the impending “job action”, “strike”, or whatever other “buzz word” is attached the present dilemma. That being said, as a student at Loyalist College of Applied Arts and Technology in Belleville, Ontario, I consider myself to be extremely fortunate. My teachers are the hardest working people I know, dedicated entirely to the education, professional development, and personal development of each student in their charge.
Like others before me, I wish that a final decision would be made. It is my hope that a strike does not occur; however, I am of the belief that it is inevitable. The Union has made it’s demands known (backed up by a task force ruling circa 2006), and the Colleges will not agree to arbitration.
To me, it seems that both sides are being “bull-headed” and arrogant. Neither is going to back down to the benefit of the other, which is a sad state of affairs.
Let me end by saying this: from what I’ve gathered after speaking with the faculty in my program at Loyalist, the teachers do not wish to strike. They are not ignorant of the fact that any job action will have extremely negative consequences for the students. Unfortunately, their hands are tied. They cannot cross the picket line or risk losing their jobs, something I cannot fault them for. I wouldn’t want to lose my job either.
I implore both sides of this debate to go back to the bargaining table. Hammer out an agreement, and let’s get back to preparing the future of this country for the world outside the educational doors.
Rebecca A. M. Crouter; C.C.C.T., D.C.S.E., C/MCpl (Rt’d)
Community and Justice Services Worker student – year 2
Loyalist College of Applied Arts and Technology
Belleville, Ontario
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So I think it’s a bunch of crap that theyre going on strike and that they were even being given a raise in the new contract but nooo. they have to go and strike over getting a raise and a few things they might not like? heres an idea. settle it over the summer, or do it while i can get my tuition back cause i dont feel like loosing out on a ton of school and money cause youre selfish. i mean half the province is going bankrupt and loosing jobs/ being laid off and youre going to strike over this? bullshit. just like the garbage guys this summer. you should be glad you still have a job.
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As part of a school assignment can anyone answer this for me please:
You you feel that work load has been rushed in the recent weeks?
Thanks so much for helping!
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as long as the resolution is reasonable, I don’t really mind. the faculty has the right to make a sound for what they want.
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Seriously, the OPSEU needs to get their act together. As a fourth semester student, ready to graduate in April, and continue to university starting in the summer – this truly isn’t benefiting any of us. If you’re going to strike – do it now, stop delaying it & getting hopes up.
Feb 17th better be the last deadline.. you’re toying with peoples’ educations.
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Ok this is ridiculous seriously pick a bloody date and have your damned strike if you want it but stop messing with us you keep pushing deadline after deadline either strike or dont stop playing these headgames with us some of us actrually want to finish school and do what we gotta do not wait around for a stupid union to decide everyones fate
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ever think that the teachers moved the date back so they can get paid for family day????/ UGH
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If the colleges think their offer is good, why won’t they take it to binding arbitration (if it is voted down by the teachers on Wednesday). They have nothing to lose and there would definitely be NO strike. The union already has agreed to this.
Why does college management want to chance that there will be a strike, when binding arbitration is a good option?
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Over $100,000 per year? Forget being an engineer, I’d rather be a teacher. Their workload complains is jokes.
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They need to hurry up and make a decision because if there’s a strike i’m booking a trip to Miami. I was hoping to get to go for the 11th, now I gotta wait until the 17th, dammit! VOTE NO TO THE OFFER TEACHERS! i’m feeling a nice vacation, yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeea
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Everyone who is paid as much as these teachers, deserves to be overworked. Teachers, you don’t deserve a union. As a student, I’m getting a little tired of going to school just to bend over…Stop screwing us. Greed is evil.
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There will be a strike for sure guys sadly to say… If i was having a chance of getting a raise in this economic recession, I think you would strike too… Also 57% voted so that means almost half the teachers out there have values.
Because I bet the 57% wants a raise cause their college’s is cramming course load to the max… EG my college has 2000 computers, 7000+ students. Without a laptop I would fail college… Its not the teachers, its the colleges…
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Teachers go on strike to help themselves and to bring attention to the public about what is going on. Being a mature student, I have already lived and worked in the community and held jobs and been disgusted with conditions and what :I had to do to maintain “quality of life”.
The thing is, when you leave school and are out in the real world, you have to deal with life…get used to it, it will not change with the passing of time or you ignoring it. Just as wishing will not prevent you having to have a project turned in or a test averted, the real world forces you to grow up, become self sufficient and rely on yourself, using what you have been taught to make your way in the world.
You will one day be out there, and may have to strike to gain what you believe you deserve, and you won’t care that it might affect someone else, you will be thinking only that you work long and hard for what pay you receive. Hope that there is some body or group that will act on your behalf to get you what you perceive is fair and just.
So let the strike happen, it will last less than a month, the colleges will reduce debt, the teachers will lose money and students will still complete the courses. Time? Money? Reality has finally hit you: get used to it, life can sometimes suck but it is what you make it.
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JUST GO ON STRIKE ALREADY!!!!!!!
GET IT OVER WITH!!!!!!!!!!
THE LONGER YOU PUSH THE DATE BACK THE MORE THE STUDENTS GET SCREWED OVER!!!!!!
FCK THIS SHIIT!!!!!!!!!!!!
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WE DO NOT WANT TO STUDY WITH THE FEAR OF STRIKE SURROUNDING US!!!!!!
LETS ALL GO ON A STRIKE STUDENTSSSS ARE ARE GOING TO SUFFER EVEN IF WE GO ON STRIKE OR THEY GO ON STRIKE BUT STUDENT STRIKE WILL MAKE A HUGE IMPACT ON THE ISSUE OF TEACHERS AND UNION GOING ON STRIKE EVERY NOW AND THEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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why are these damn teachers acting out!!!! why do u guyss need to go on strike every 2-3 years..
why do you guys teach… to make money…. or to serve teh new generation and get them educated…. i guess professors today are teachin because they wanna make money… ther is no SERVICE factors attached to it… they are here to make money and dont even care if they have any responsibility towards their students…
CHEK OUT THE SALARIES OF TOP MANAGEMENT PEOPLE AT DIFFERENT COLLEGES its SHOCKING TO SEE THOSE HUGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY THEY ARE MAKING>>….
I THINK STUDENTS TO GO ON A STRIKE AND SHOULD BOYCOTT EVERY COLLEGE AND THEM PROFESSORS…THEY ARE MAKING MONEY>>>MORE AND MORE AND MORE MONEY BECAUSE WE ARE PAYING FOR THEM>>>>IF WE STOP PAYING AND EVERYONE WOULD REQUIRE THEY MONEY BACK FOR THEIR TUITION… THIS ISSUES WILL STOPP FOR EVER….
BOYCOTTINGGGGG COLLEGE FACULTY STAFF AND UNION
STUDENTS WAKE UP AND APPEAL FOR A STRIKE EVEN IF IT IS LEGAL OR ILLEGAL BECAUSE WE ARE ALL GOIN TO SUFFER AT THE END NO MATTER WHAT
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ok, so this may sound stupid with all the fighting and stuff.. but.. i want the teachers to go on strike, its a nice break get caught up on homework, study and have a little free time. I am not from sudbury so it would also be nice to go home and see some friends. Yes i care about my schooling and my education, but if you look at all the facts.. no student has ever lost there semester due to a strike. so really its just like an extended march break. and really if they happen to strike longer do you really thing they have the money the time and the resources to fail every student for a 3 week loss. its not like there going to make us come back next semester to re due it. if anything there going to take the marks you have at the end of the year and decided then if you pass or fail. and really its realistic its not like the teachers are going to go into exam week with exams full of material they never taught then expect you to know it. if anything the exam is going to be based off of the information you’ve already learned and are expected to know. some people may be looking at this as one giant party but i how ever look at it as a break to get caught up on home work study your notes and yes visit friends and family i havnt seen in a while. but im sure everyone has there own plans to do as they please, so w.e.. and they have already turned down the binding arbitration option. which was pretty much the only thing that was keeping them from striking. soo i for see a strike …
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Thanks to the teachers for waiting for the students to get locked into the year before threatening a strike. Really shows what upstanding characters you are. Assholes.
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ohh sorry they are too busy spending their money and going on vacation
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they should strike or argue during the summer vacation when NONE of them work
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Pissed student and JC,
Have you even read what this is about? Talking about selfish, and you rant about what it is good for YOU? So you rather to have anybody teaching you without giving you any feedback or even have any preparation of what he is going to say in class? Is that the teacher you rather to have? Because if that is the case, go ahead an complain about how selfish a teacher is to ask to have time to prepare his classes and time to mark the work you do. Now, if what you rather to have at end is just a piece of paper, without any real training behind, you may as well buy that piece of paper in the net. You can find a good diploma from a non qualify institution for less than $200 ( plus for you, it does not require to be able to read, just rant about things without any solid information behind ) . If this continues as it is right now, that is what you will obtain anyway here: a piece of paper because you came to a college, but not an education. So how selfish those teachers, to want to EDUCATE you, so YOU can have a better future.
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Wow! Seriously…decide already!!!
If you are going to strike, then strike…why wait??
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All I would like is that you make up your minds so that the students know how to plan since you are screwing us over, some people need to extend leases etc.
I wish you could just be upfront!!!
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OMG Stop moving the damn date, you just want us to go past the stupid tuition deadline so we do not get any of our money back. Like frig just get it over with, why do you keep putting it off, it is getting really annoying.
Like now the teachers are teaching us half ass because they are not happy and we are expected to write our midterms before the strike now….
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I am LITERALLY sick of all of this crap! Wasn’t something supposed to be voted on way back in January??? Good thing innocent people aren’t stuck in the middle…Oh wait, all of us students are! I HATE THIS!!!!! But hey come closer to Feb 17 they will move it back another week.
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i agree with a pissed off student. the only people suffering here are the students. we’ve paid our tuition and we all know that if the strike goes through we WILL NOT be refunded for the weeks lost.. we’re also responsible for learning the missed material ourselves… why even bother paying for education since we don’t even get taught?! this whole thing is disgusting and very selfish.
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I don’t understand how they don’t give to shits about the students. I live out of town from where I go to school and for me to have to stay an extra month and the end of the year costs over a $1,000 for that month. I think it’s stupid that they have not come to a decision yet, and think even less of some teacher’s out their now then I did before. To those who encourage a strike you’re selfish. To those students who have to pay extra for their stupidity I feel for you, it’s not fun and very stressful.
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So all this time, and they keep knocking back deadlines. It’s obvious that the union doesn’t want to go on strike, but is trying to milk the government for more money because they know the government wants to defuse this situation to not get chased out of parliament. Just skip the small talk, everyone knows what the end result is, just get it over with and quit jerking us around.
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Look, the college will not agree to binding arbitration.
Face facts, there will be a strike, on Feb 23rd.
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Honestly, OPSEU is an orginization too and if they don’t cause all this useless junk than people might start wondering why we need them and get rid of them. Now lets help OPSEU keep their jobs and continue doing the stupid things they do. OPSEU thank you for thinking about other, and not being selfish. And hey here is a thought why don’t students get some sort of a ”Union” to annoy and disagree with OPSEU.
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To Michael Jones
I just finished reading your comment, thank you for supporting the students and I personally agree that a strike is the wrong idea, but you are right, whatever the outcome everthing MUST be clear and consice so that everyone know what is what.
Lets make the right decision whatever it is no matter what.
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I agree with /ugh… a very valid point with a very illustrative metaphor. It isn’t the end of the world and we should make preparations if the teachers do strike. Finish assignments, study, prepare for tests/exams… whatever needs to be done.
And fortunately, some of the part time staff will still be teaching, so there will be some classes still scheduled.
If only I had my own country, this wouldn’t happen.
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when will something happen?
our furtures should not be in the hands of people willing to walk out and leave us in the dust.
please remember the CUPE Union strike that happened in Windsor this past summer, everything simply got worse and worse, finally in the end i still do not know who won, once the strike starts everyone will lose perspective and NO ONE will win.
please do not strike
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Here we’re complaining about a strike, meanwhile puppies that look like pitbulls who have done nothing to harm any person are being put down in Brampton. We should be aware of the mistreatments of animals as much as students. Sure, we’re being screwed like a pooch with this strike, but at least we aren’t being put down.
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STOP
.
.
.
.
.
NOW THINK!
think why am i doing this?
think is it worht it?
think do I really need all that money?
think what will my students do?
think why did I start teaching in the first place?
think what type of an example am i showing the students?
just sit down and think please.
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The strike at the beginning was 18th, so they didn’t really move it back, they just want to look like they are the good sides.
I looked at all my teachers in class time, it is between 8-12 hours a week. Then they have office time, which should add up to make 40 hours (so 28-32 hours). When i was teaching in a foreign land, I was in class 25-30 hours a week, and had 10-15 in office time, and still had crap load work to take home.
In order to teach High School/University, you need a min Bachelor, but higher is normally wanted, most teachers i have in college are working towards their bachelor and not have one yet, just a diploma. This is crazy. $80,000 per year, not needing same education as other school types, and demand more pay, and easier work load, now that is a laugh. I would work 45-50 hours a week for a chance to get that pay, and not complain once. Most people today earn only 30-40 grand a year, and they working the dirty jobs or have a larger work load.
Students should have be allowed in these talks, (not outside, I mean in all the meetings), so that they are argue what they see about the points. Tuition pays for most of the teachers pay, so shouldn’t we have say what we get for this money. “Quality of education” what does that mean to them. I gone to 2 colleges, and i seen HUGE difference since the last strike. Students get less hours a week in class, we get less material, or pay outrageous prices for textbooks which we use 1-2 times for whole semester, paying higher tuition. This doesn’t make sense. If I paid more, shouldn’t i get more, not less.
Without students, there is no need for teachers, so why not let students have say in what we are paying for. Since we are the ones losing class time, and/or placement hours.
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hey you know this thing is driving me crazy, if they are going to strike, than strike, if your not than don’t dates are changing like i change my socks, to vote on is set for the 10th, that gives you untill and full 24 hours to know if it was rejected or accepted. i know, no one wants to strike, but by changing the dats when ever see fit, make the students, life even more on edge,,, oh ya i forgot, no one gives a crap about us… this is stupid anyway..
When you change the dates and extend the time, it doesn’t help your poker face at all. it actully seems like you know that your not going to get what you want or even close, if we all waited for something better to come along, nothing would get done, just have a bunch of ppl on prozac with the jitters,,, oh ya again who gives a crap about us….
delay it some more, not only are yous, making yourselves super extended, but your also taking another 3-5 years of my life (anxiety attacks)
man i wish you would do it or not…………………………………………..
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re: pisssed student >>
Ur so dumb…. “at least you have jobs”
what kinda communist comment is that?
its not just about having a job its about getting what you deserve for that job. they went to school and need to support a family. not just teach you they dont sleep in the class room you know? maby you should just stop using a computer.
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Ok, now I am getting fed up. They move the strike deadline again?! The Feb 11 strike deadline was actually going to work out for us here at Sault College since our spring break is the following week. Now we will get back just in time to find out we can go back home. This may be all fine and dandy for most college students that are from the town that their college resides in, or are at least within a reasonable driving distance; however everyone in my program, and I do mean everyone in my year at least lives at least five hours drive away. I had arranged a one way flight back home, so that if the strike was to happen I could stay down south and if they said an agreement was reached I could buy a ticket back here at a none inflated last minute cost with no class interruption. NOW YOU SCREW EVEN THAT UP!!! Oh yeah and just to note, since my program is a commercial pilot program, most of our time is dedicated to flying in our final year here and we cannot fly either while the professors are on strike. It is already hard enough stay on top of our flying and finish by the end of this semester, thanks to weather and maintenance; now with the strike you are going to push our completion back into mid summer and screw us over getting our foot in the door in an industry that is very ciclic. AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
Ok now that I have gotten all that out…if they are going to go on strike do it now, if not decide now. Stop delaying this, it is in no one’s best interest. Hell I would rather you go on strike now then keep us waiting to hear whether you will or not to eventually decide not to after endless delaying for a month.
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I like everyone who had posted all their crap about how selfish and greedy the faculty members are being… Are you not complaining cause your worried about your self? You should be directing all of your rude comments and concerns toward management, they make the final decisions not faculty. If the faculty go on strike, it’s because management is allowing it to happen rather than thinking of the ‘poor’ students. Try supporting your faculty instead of crying like a bunch of babies, right now your only siding with management which is why they aren’t budging. Think outside the box people; your suppose to be educated*
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Well, just found out I can’t extend my lease for just a month. Looks like I will be homeless come the end of April.
Truthfully, if the teachers strike I hope the colleges give them nothing. I hope they lose their pay checks during the strike and gain nothing from striking.
The teachers union has strategically timed this strike, and they are low class scum in my opinion.
How can they say it is for anything more than money. Because I know all my work has been done online, on an online study program that marks everything for you, then relays the mark to the teacher at the deadline.
Oh NO!!!!! the teachers want less students? to do what? RECEIVE LESS EMAILS!
I for one have not done one single assignment that has had to be handed in, in person all year. Eberything is done online!!!
So since I am going to lose my home and I have no family near my school, I hope the teachers suffer a loss and struggle with their normal standard of living!
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It would be nice if they could keep a strike date. The 17th isnt necessary, the 11th was fine. They’re taking a shot at the students by doing this.
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Another student view:
I have heard the hype. I have listened to the issues as explained by both sides. From my point of view, I do not wish for a strike – for any reason. I resigned a good position in government, moved my wife, family and all belongings 6000kms to attend college. I did not do this to have my school year threatened. Tutiition cost? That doesn’t even begin to cover it…
That said, I have now experienced a full term of school in an oversubscribed program. We are a technical college, but the ability of professors to spend adequate time with students is seriously hampered by the sheer numbers that are in class. The professors do their best, but no one can do the impossible. The increased numbers also put a serious strain on the equipment required to participate properly in the learning of technical skills.
Each year the pressure to accommodate more students burdens the professors to achieve quality teaching, and the students clearly suffer from the lack.
I do not speak without knowledge. I have instructed in the professional world for 25 years. The ratio for effective transfer of knowledge decreases sharply for technical information after a ration of 8 students for 1 facilitator. When you reach 30 per facilitator, well,,, you get the point.
Of course, if we put a cap on class size – which is the only just thing to do for a quality education, then the inevitable outcome is higher tuition fees. We quickly find ourselves heading toward a U.S. system where it costs not thousands of dollars per year to attend post secondary, but tens of thousands.
Hard choices, no matter how you slice it. For now, I have paid and I want to attend. I simply know that some of the reasons the colleges seek the strike mandate are valid. Sometimes it really isn’t just about a few more dollars in the paycheck.
Good luck to all.
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Postponed again!? Never again will I believe my prof when they say that deadlines are deadlines and it’s preparing us for “real life” where deadlines can’t just be changed.
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NO STRIKE PLEASE…i wish from all full-time academic staff to think deeply about the students. we want to finish our schools and graduate to find a job so we can live better, why do you want to put our future on hold just to get your pay roll raised few cents…?? i dont think it worth
i hope from you to make a dicision that does not affect us “the students”. try to solve your problems in another way, but dont go on strike please. please dont.
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There is a way to prevent a strike. There is a way to resolve any issues that can’t be resolved at the bargaining table. Please visit…
http://www.studentpetition.ca
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WHat??? Now they’re moving the deadline to Feb 17th??? Why do you keep stretching it out?? I know why… you want the professors to keep working, stretching out the time as much as possible. Seriously….
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Wow, this is getting extremely annoying. Stop being children and make a decision, please!! If a strike is wanted, then do it already! If not, then accept an offer and let us all move on from this. Delaying this further and further is getting rather exhausting, mentally.
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If wishes were horses, beggars would ride. This is about the least informed group of people i have ever seen. No wonder governments and colleges can do anything they please. Nobody knows anything and and most just like to bitch about everything. If you don’t like your teachers, don’t go to college, but please stop mouthing off mindlessly!
Just hope for the best and hand on tight!
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Just strike already, I’d like a break.
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Curious Big Ears,
You hope to gain binding arbitration by striking,
But you said you want to improve quality of education and you say it wasn’t done last time despite binding arbitration.
So a strike will inconvenience current students, you will get binding arbitration, quality of education will NOT be improved.
Seems current students get screwed for no reason.
If you think the union OR colleges care about students, you’re naive.
I have no doubt some instructors care about students.
As was mentioned a while ago, quit if you’re not happy.
No one will do the job if conditions are that bad.
That’s how most of society deals with jobs they don’t like.
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Decide already! We (as students) across Ontario are caught in the middle! We’ve paid our dues to get an education and now we have to put up with this crap?
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You’ll never go on strike, stop causing so much drama.
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So now that the date is moved back to the 17th, does this mean if the strike is to take place it wont be untill the 17th?
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And another set back! This is getting to be ridiculous! I don’t understand why things keep getting pushed farther and farther back. I thought the students would have a clear answer by now.. Then I learn they push the striek vote to the 10th.. THEN I hear now the deadline is the 17th. This is just stupid. Not that I want a strike (because I definitely do NOT want a strike) … I just wish they’d hurry up and either go on strike already, or drop the talks about striking! This is driving me nuts!
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i think that for the people who want to go on strike, you people dont give a crap about the students. at least you have jobs! weve already paid our stuff for the year… we are the ones that are losing out on an education becuase you guys are being so selfish!!!!!!! its not fair to us. so hurry up and make a decision already holy!!!!
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If the teachers the Union represents had a sense of decency they’d allow strike timing at Colleges to be selected by the teachers per College. Some of use our in our last week two weeks of trade school at the current strike date. I appreciate not all colleges are on the same time table, but in my area some of the people in class are from as far as 4 hours away. Those that are, rented apartments for the 2 month term and now you are going to basically screw them over in the process of wanting to be treated more fairly yourselves. What are they supposed to do? Waste two weeks then find another place for two weeks when you guys go back to work? Will EI sponsor that? Do you give a shit? I hate the hypocrisy of an organization fighting for “the quality of education” and fair treatment and in order to get it they fuck over another group of people, they ones they are hired to help. You are going to have a hell of a lot of pissed of tradesmen that’s all I can say, myself included. I hope Darth Harper quashes this whole mess. If you got problems you want solved first and foremost find a way to scrap it out with out taking innocent bystanders with you, you’ll get a lot more sympathy.
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Consider this rhetoric or not, moving the strike date from the 11th to the 17th is a purely strategic move on OPSEU’s part. ‘Rumour’ has it that an e-mail circulated to all members encouraged the date being pushed back in order to have the most disruptive impact on students; Initiating a strike during review week would have a less than desired effect if the student’s aren’t there to feel its immediate impact! Just a thought…
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On the last strike, one of the key items we were fighting for was as you say, “quality of education.” That essentially is workload and what happened last time, because the College rejected all our demands was to strike a task force to help settle this work load issue in an impartial manner. That task froce made many good reasonable recommendations. That task froce was mostly paid for by the College. The College rejected nearly all the task force recommendations and here the union is now putting their foot down saying we want some of those reasonable recommendations to take place by the college.
The main reason to back up the strike date to the 17th is to give the college a chance at binding arbitration rather than just jump to a strike. Why not exhaust every opportunity to avoid a strike? It had absolutley nothing to do with Family Day – lol – that’s ridiculous!
The decision to strike will be based on ALL Ontario colleges as a whole percentage. All colleges in Ontario will be on strike, not just a few.
If the offer is accepted by faculty, there will be no strike and the union will respect that decision. If the offer is rejected, then the union still wants the College to goto binding arbitration to settle this ASAP. Faculty is rather outraged at this provocation of not wanting to negotiate with our OPSEU union in good faith. The tactics are unprecidented in any past negotiations and the College can likely expect more faculty supporting strike action in support of our union’s demands. We hire a highly intelligent group of union negotiators and most certainly will not just abandon them. The college has their big claws out and dammit, OPSEU members are not going to just roll over. Now that’s my guess from what I’ve heard, but who knows throughout ALL Ontario colleges what in fact will happen.
The reason students did not see changes from the last strike was the College failed to implement the Task Force on Workload’s recommendations.. Yes, that would cost the College money. They gave us wage money that equlas cost of living and called it a day. We settled with binding arbitration that time because we truly felt that the college would comply with the Task Force on workload’s recommenations after the last strike. Oh well, who is one to believe?
If the College refuses that binding arbitration offer, then there most certainly will be a strike.
The College knows that the Ministry MUST intervene when they feel a student’s semester would be in jeopardy. All-in-all, if the strike strats in the 17th, we will be back working on March 11th. Most all faculty have saved funds to support the three weeks should that be required. Money is really not the question, workload is the key item. Knowing that the strike must end with the Ministry taking over and ordering us back to work; what is the point in waiting for binding arbitration to occur at March 11th or why not just immediately after a no vote from faculty on the 17th? Get binding arbitration done with right up front! Both the College and OPSEU know that the arbitrator wlll support what was recommended by the Task Force on Workload that was originally hired to do this job by the college. They did not like to hear the truth and now the College is trying to wiggle like a snake trying to get out of this mess and try their best to make faculty and OPSEU look bad.
OK, now lets perhaps look at the real reason for this strike. Each college is millions in debt as we have been told by College management. Hey, guess what! This strike will clear up the entire Ontario College’s debt load and they are back to a fresh start to build lots of new buildings. I wonder if this item has any factor in he college’s not wanting binding arbitartion right now. Wouldn’t you like to be debt free, if you had an easy way out on the backs of faculty and students?
Think about that and who is really pushing the buttons around this strike business!
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The Union is trying to avoid the strike at pushing the date back. If the vote is on the 10th, the count will not be finish until the 11th ( the teacher will be already on a strike ), and if the vote is a no, the colleges will just sit down, and wait a couple of week ( remember that in 2006, the colleges save $1M / day, they did not provide the students a service, and did not have to pay any teacher !!! ). Why did you think the colleges wait until the last minute?
The Union pushes the date back, so now, if the vote is a NO, and they ( the Union ) have already agree to binding arbitration, the Colleges may do some negotiations, and again change their “last offer”. Now, they had just one time to put their offer to vote ( the new legislation ) so they need to be more serious now. Or they could accept binding arbitration, which they don’t want, since most likely the arbitration will go more in favour of what the Union is looking for. Three basic things: academic freedom, workload and salaries. Three things that the colleges do not want to implement even thought those three things were recommend in arbitration processes in the past.
What the teacher are trying to achieve is to be able to teach students so they can have a job in the future. Management does not see students, they see clients, somebody that pay for something, and how they can deliver the lowest price product to the clients, making them pay the maximum, so the can have a revenue. Higher education should not be about revenue.
If a strike happens, it will be because the colleges could save Millions and Millions of dollars and for them, that is revenue, and that is good business.
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Like f**k, just go on strike already, moving the strike deadline date to feb 17th has nothing to do with buying more time before they go on strike. The just wanna get there bonus oay for family day. There are people in this world having a hard time making ends meet and these so called teachers are complaining that $80 000/year is not enough money. Hey teachers, I’ll take 80 grand if you don’t want it.
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The strike date was moved to the 17th to give more time to hold the vote.
“Abdulla MJ says:
So there is one thing i cannot understand .”
If over 50% of teachers province vote to go on strike then ALL colleges proving wide go on strike.
All colleges go on strike or none do.
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So with the new deadline (17th), does that mean the strike will start that day (if they vote ‘yes’ to the strike) or 5 days after that? Sorry if this has been answered already. They keep changing dates around and I’m confused.
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With the vote on the college’s final offer taking place on the 10th the union has moved their strike deadline back to allow for time to bargaining in the offer is rejected by the academic staff.
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Just make a decision damn!
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Just hurry and vote right now.
give us an answer tomrrow or friday..
we can’t keep waiting this loongg. It shouln’t take this long to vote. It is either a Yes or NO. SO get on with it. WHY are you taking so long?
HURRY UP!!!!!
DECIDEE..
think about the studentss….
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Michael Jones – How about you vote ‘NO’ to the final offer, so we can have a nice break.
Thank you.
VOTE NO TEACHERS!!!! I need a vacation, Cancun maybe?
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LOL @ everyone who thinks that this will go to binding arbitration once the teachers vote NO. Both sides have to agree to binding arbitration, and the college’s won’t agree to that.
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Note to Abdulla MJ,
If the majority votes to not accept the offer, then all of the colleges will have no choice but to go on strike. Hopefully, they will resolve all this with this vote on the offer. By OPSEU extending the strike deadline, I think they are hoping that if the vote is to not accept the offer then they still have a week for both sides to work out an agreement before the strike deadline date. And usually when push comes to shove, there will be a last minute offer just before the deadline and things will work out. Here’s hoping.
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I really don’t think that pushing the date back is really going to help. I they should just go on strike now because we all no that they are just going to go anyway. so they should just go now and get it done and over with so we can all move on and do what we came here and and payed for.
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So there is one thing i cannot understand . Lets say that for example Fanshawe College Voted YES In Favour of a strike , and Durham College Voted NO . Does that mean that fanshawe will go on strike , and Durham Wont ? or are they going to base the decision on the percentage of All Ontario Colleges ?
Oh and Fanshawe just Posted this :
The Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) has just announced that college faculty will have the opportunity to vote on the colleges’ final offer on Wednesday, February 10, the day before OPSEU’s February 11 strike deadline. The OLRB will oversee a final offer vote to be held at all 24 colleges. Please see Media Release for more details.
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Does anyone realize that the teachers once again are moving the strike date to the 17th so they can get paid for family day!
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Apparently the strike date has been moved to Feb 17 just so you guys know. One of our teachers informed us today.
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ALan, as do you, obviously have no idea what the process of arbitration means.
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“Alan says:
Binding Arbitration — The students avoid any disruption. WOW, sounds like a great idea to me.
Is this a no-brainer.”
The union is willing to but the colleges are not.
It makes too much sense.
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I do NOT think they will strike.
I think the strike mandate was close enough and there were people that voted yes to that because it was a bargaining chip but they will vote no when they would actually have to strike.
It would be a really bad move to strike, they will get very little public support.
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I was in college during the 2006 strike and in response to tired, nothing changed for me from before the strike to after the strike in regards to “quality” of education. In fact, for that specific term I feel we lost “quality” in our education since we lost 2 weeks on our schedule and had the second half of the term sqeezed into 5 weeks rather than 7 weeks with no change in the course objectives. We as students were forced to work harder, with our already busy schedules and we were rushed and probably did not get what we should have out of that term. If the teachers were fighting for “quality” then maybe they should have thought about the “quality” of our lives and our education for the remainder of the term during the last strike.
Now, I am back in college again due to the economic enviroment. Again, we are hearing the same “quality” of education story as last time. And I am worried that this will go just like last time, teachers go on strike, our term is reduced and we the students are forced to work harder in a reduced term. If you vote yes for a strike, I please ask you to fight for us and that our term is not shortened like it was last time. It was not fair for us last time, and it will not be fair again this time, especially if you are fighting for “quality” of education. And I plead with those who suggest they are fighting for “quality of education” to think about what will actually change…. Nothing did last time, so in all likelyness nothing will this time. Is it worth it to put us the students in this position, again, with nothing to show for your headline objective?
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Binding Arbitration — the students win. With arbitration the system keeps functioning with no stoppage. The College gets some of what it wants, but not all. The Professors get some of what they want, but not all. The students avoid any disruption. WOW, sounds like a great idea to me.
With a strike the College gets to save a lot of money, the Professors get to lose a lot of money and the students end up being totally inconvenienced. At the end of the strike what happens …. binding arbitration. Is this a no-brainer.
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Well, it SEEMS evident that we are going to be striking, but there is no need to ‘count your chickens before they hatch’ so to speak. However, SEEMS is enough to have us all on edge. I suggest we all be optimistic yet realistic about this. It doesn’t help to be spreading rumours about the way this is going to end seeing as we won’t know the outcome until the day of the vote. I really hope we don’t strike, but what is to come if we do? How is our year going to be affected? Where is the point of no return? Is it at all possible I will lose my entire semester because of this? If so, how likely is that? There are so many questions I have that will be utterly impossible to answer without waiting it out. All I can say is I truly hope an agreement is reached because many student’s futures are at risk here. This has been a costly year for me and I certainly cannot afford to lose it all because side A and B can’t get along.
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I am a student at St.Clair College. I can sympathize with the teachers and I know the last thing they want is to look like the “bad guys”. Honestly though when a mob mentality starts, it’s hard to stop. Why, instead of trying to work this out through arbitration or mediation, is everyone getting their panties in a twist and getting all rilled up. Like I said, I can sympathize. This is your career and your income we’re talking about. BUT this is also MY education along with so many others who are being jerked around. Oh and by the way I thought we were all grown ups here. I am sick of coming to class and trying to cram an extra week’s worth of work into my personal time “just incase”. I just think that having this hanging over everyone’s head is very stressful and unfair and I did not break the bank to sit in this seat just to get a second rate semester from people who can’t see past their own nose.
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Stop Yelling at eachother!!!!! i hope teachers go on strike so i can go help out in Hatti
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yah this is crazy whats gonna happen to all the things we need to get caught up on ? cause i am for sure as hell not going to school through my summer thats us students cherished break we wait for all year and im not going through my summer to be penalized for the teachers hell no and we better not get screwed for money!
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I swear if they push the date any later again, I’m going to break something.
Just decide already my god.
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when will we know anything else?
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You know, at this point, it does not bother me why they want to strike. What bothers me, like many others, is the constant back and forth. Honestly, I just want a straight answer, once again like many others. It’s just stressful and annoying to have this prolonged so much. Although, every person I talk to is convinced that there is going to be a strike, you have to hope for the best. I just applied for university for the fall, and I do not want that put at risk in any way. There is so much extra stress added in just waiting for the final decision. On this website, I have seen so many people writing “it’d be nice if they strike, I need a little break” and things like “it’ll be like a mini vacation”. Now, I have no idea what to even say to these people, are you kidding me. A mini vacation?! You need a break?! You do realize that there is a huge chance that the strike will last longer than a week?… If you think a strike is going to be a mini vacation for you, then you obviously have not done your research. You are obviously not aware of the consequences for everyone! Well, I do not want to wait for the final decision, but I and the rest of us have no choice. Just hope for the best….
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I’m college faculty – I voted yes to the strike mandate, and will be voting yes to the contract. This has once again been a painfully opaque process. Council suggests the sides are too far apart – but on what? My union hasn’t lifted a finger to define what precisely the holdout clauses/points may be, nor has Council. “Quality education” is a maddeningly difficult thing to define, and they’ve done a horrible job messaging why their interpretation of it is superior to what’s on offer – again., They failed to do it in 2006 in any intelligible way as well – they held a “rally for education quality” instead. A freaking quality rally? Is OPSEU run by Dilbert’s pointy-haired boss? I’m not going to lose thousands of dollars in pay for another vaguely defined buzzword, sorry.
Council, on the other hand, has been draconian in their approach – constantly framing the debate through imposition of terms. This is NOT bargaining, and the only reason I voted for the strike mandate in the first place. But would a strike solve that problem? Council is acting within its legal authority – OPSEU really should focus their energies on determining what idiot (looking in your general direction, John Milloy) gave Council that authority in the first place and target them politically in the 2011 election.
And like 2006, the CSA is the best source of information in this entire debate – transparent, up to date, and engaging and interactive through intelligent use of social media technologies. Kudos to the student alliance for being the only rational adults involved in this nonsense.
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Dear tired,
Please do YOUR research, salaries are part of the reason why both sides can’t meet in the middle. Quality classroom conditions, workload etc are all part of the reason also, so to say that salaries are not means you are the misinformed one.
-Rep
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I understand the professors’ need for autonomy with some respects to their teaching techniques. I don’t think every course can be tested the same way, and this is one of the issues the union is fighting for. Certain skills just can’t be tested by multiple choice questions! I understand that another issue is that the colleges want the professors to put in more teaching hours, which means the professors have to put in more grading and preparation hours. When you become a professor, isn’t this just part of job? In many ways professors (teachers) have a pretty good job. You get longer and more vacations than the majority of jobs out there, you have a say in what field you teach, which allows you to do something you love doing. In most jobs, the employee walks in, does what they’re told to do and has to wait a year for any vacation time.
There needs to be a balance in what you are fighting for. I know this isn’t about wages, and I know that professors (teachers), have a lot of work to do, but are you remembering why you became a professor? Wasn’t the reason to make a difference in young person’s life? Too often people forget why they chose the field they chose.
Good luck with your fight, but please remember, we, the students, don’t want to have our year postponed. We have things we want to do as well and waiting for the union to make up their mind isn’t one of them.
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thr gov. and opseu are playing a very dangerous game with the reputation of Ontario’s post secondary college education system. Any student who has an option of education elsewhere will think long and hard about paying fees into a system that will have a threat of shut down every three years. At this point the gov. has backed the union into a corner by refusing binding arbritration. If I knew there was a threat of this happening, no way the system would have been allowed to use me as a playing chip. Shame on both sides, more so the gov for underhanded tatics, and opsue for letting their members be taken advantage of by changes to bill 90. Enough is enough. time for these two parties to own up to their paying customers, and renew faith in this system. The right thing to do is suck it up. Teacher complain about late class times, boo whooo, look around prof, most of society works odd hours. As for class size the gov needs to realize how serious and issue this is when it comes to quality education. Hang on students, it is clear neither side could care less about their obligation to you, a PAYING customer.
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IF THEY DID NOT WANT MORE MONEY THEN THEY WOULD NOT BE THREATENING A STRIKE. THE EDUCATION IS FINE. THEY WANT A SALARY INCREASE YET THEY ONLY WORK 8 MONTHS OF THE YEAR. THEY DESERVE NOTHING MORE THAN WHAT THEY HAVE. THEY HAVE ENOUGH AS IT IS.
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The college board does not want to go to binding arbitrtion beacuse they have alot to lose and most likely will lose. Come on students, its time you back your teachers. I’m a current student and have been invovled with numerous CAW negotiations and for all the younger students that don’t really understand the process, just ask. I attend the Niagara on the Lake Campus and would gladly set up shop in the pub to explain whats going on behind the scenes. For all you teachers out there its time you took a firm stand and fight for your proposals. Now is the time!!!
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Can we see what the ‘final’ offer is?
The union says there are significant takeaways and I wonder what they are.
If we can’t see the offer, why not?
Doesn’t the public get to decide if it is fair?
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You have to be kidding me, friggin postponed again!!?!?!?!?! I’m furious.
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What are the chances that they say yes to the final vote?
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It’s pretty sad that given the economic climate, as well as the amount of enrolled students compared to years prior, that the teachers have decided to request their own bailout on the backs of the students. I don’t care what the ‘official story’ says, OPSEU is acting irresponsible in its refusal to negotiate, putting unwanted stress on Ontario students who pay ever-increasing tuition fees and are wanting badly to enter the job market on the cusp of the economic recovery.
Teachers and professors have it much better than many professions, and to be asking for raises when the students are going further and further into debt to pay for their education is outright disgusting. True, not all of the college teachers in Ontario want to strike, but those that do in many cases are just as irresponsible as the union.
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All I want to know is why this is being pushed back so much? There have been rumours / talks about a strike since last semester. I’m in my final semester and all this added stress about a strike, or no strike is definitely not necessary! I wish a decision would just be made already – and made soon! That way if there is a strike (God forbid) we’ll have more time than less to get back to class and get this semester finished without missing too much school! I just think it’s getting tossed back and forth far too much and no one’s really considering the students in this whole situation! I’m just sick and tired of all this crap!
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Personally, everybody will understand when they go into the workforce after they have finished their diplomas, its all part of life. College professors have every right to fight for gains in bargaining. Studying 4 years of Labour Studies at McMaster University has shown me that people don’t understand the meaning of strikes, its more than wages and benefits, there are non-monetary values that professors are after such as quality of education.
People don’t realize it, but its strikes that help bring up wages. They set standards in many industries that you yourself will be entering into in years to come. You can thank the people that sacrificed time, energy, and money to help the future generation by taking part in strikes. Today’s society is so focused on the “I” individualism but its solidarity that brings us together to make gains.
In in the 1990s when we seen huge government debts and the reduction of government services: privatization, contracting out, and reducing government service. During the retrenchment years were seen huge claw backs that we never gained. Do we really want to see this happen again?
People are worrying too much and too focused on themselves. Have respect for the teachers that are helping you get to your future goals and help them get to theirs.
Stand in solidarity, in the end we might see the government step in like in the 1990s and call back to work legislation and force them back to work because of the selfishness of public and their reactions to the situation. In the end it all comes down to politics and government.
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I am just wondering if they go on strike it will be by the 12th? and when do we find out that they are going on strike, at midnight on the 11th?
I am nervous
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I say – use the strike to your advantage – academically!
Study and finish off all the major projects, so that you will have MORE free time when school resumes. See the pros.
If they use us as pawns, then let them. Use the crisis as an opportunity.
Never waste a good crisis.
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I agree with you “Tired of…”.
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seeking any buzz about how the BSCN/BN students at the various colleges are supposed to maintain pace with their affiliated/sync’d universities… please post up if you have any word from your faculty (no hunches or feelings please).
Thanks!
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at: “Tired of reading posts by misinformed students” go fuck your self you stupid cunt. Here we are fucking working part time and doing night shifts to pay our fucking tuition and you talk about hearing either side of their story. I fucking work 13 hours a day to pay my tuition fee and you guys are taking the money and going on a strike. That`s wonderful! I pray to god if there was a strike the colleges just fires you old farts and hire new and talented staffs who actually care about their student`s education.
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alright i’ve been hearing different stories and no one seems to know whats going on at my school. we were told that if they decide to strike on feb.11, they have to give us 5 days notice before they strike, so they will strike feb.16…is this true? it’s all i really want to know, other than the actual answer of if they go on strike or not
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In response to the “tired of reading misinformed……”
They say at the end of that post that they are just interested in what’s best for the students. Yeah right. If that was true they wouldnt be fighting for more pay. Us students are perfectly happy, and doing very well. If they were fighting for a better education they would be trying to lower tuition rates for us and fight for that, not fight for their own gain. They have no right to say they are doing this for the students. Aggreed???
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Shouldn’t the faculty be able to make their own decision. Instead of the big bullies TELLING them what to do. Everyone for them selves should make their decissi9n they shouldnt be pursuaded into voting NO if thats not what they want.
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Here’s how my teacher explained overall.
One – the teachers are being asked to move the semester length to 14 weeks, while not getting more time to teach *ei classes moved to from 4 hours a week to 6*
Meanwhile also elementary teachers are making more money then our college teachers.
Along side that – they want to make our normal years 3 semesters or 14 weeks.
That way we only get 3 weeks of vaction between our semester thus no summer jobs and OSAP will not be increased. Best of luck.
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I’m just confused. Is the Strike deadline date February 11th or 12th?
In two other articles here it says the 11th, but here in the update it says the 12th. I’m just confused.
Either way, I suppose it doesn’t matter until the vote date has been established.
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Say you’re right, and the teachers are fighting for us, thank you, but why not strike in the summer, when less students will be affected? By striking in the middle of the semester, no matter what the outcome, we are going to get pressed for time and receive less education and less experience, apparently things the teachers are fighting for. And why wait until after we’ve paid and can’t get a refund for our tuition anymore? None of the decisions being made right now are in favor of the students. We are being completely disregarded. I’m sure they have heard our call already not to strike, but they are going ahead anyways. I can go on but I’m hungry.
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ok so , I don’t know who is misinformed here? dumba** teacher or student , however isn’t the bargin for an increase in salary and lesser caseload ( smaller classrooms? ) meaning lesser students? you teachers claim that you care about the education and blah blah blah but if you so do care about the education for the students , then how come you want a smaller classroom, Don’t give the BS about having more time to interact with the students because you guys don’t interact with the students , everything is posted on blackboard and when the lectures are done , the teachers go through the blackboard. The computers is the worst they don’t teach and it is a self thought class and those who are new to the system are stuck doing these lessons alone. There are many students I found myself assisting with the lessons and when I asked them if they went to the teacher they said they don’t help.,…. screw seneca and all the useless teachers there , they don’t care about anyone but themselves.
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I just don’t understand why the colleges can not just take this to arbitration, it’s a shame that the students have to tell the adults to stop acting like children.
I understand those on the other side have graduated and have careers, and a strike would effect not at all but perhaps they could show a little bit of empathy and understand the implications of their childish behaviors.
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To “Tired of reading posts by misinformed students says”
Many students, especially those who are mature students with families to support, are not just worried about missing classes or losing their semester. They are worried about not being able to work if they work on campus or having to push back summer employment plans. In cases like ours, where we have taken on debt and have to live very frugally so my husband can go to school as a mature student, no amount of keeping studying and “keep working on your projects and assignments” will make up for lost wages if my husband is unable to work at his job on campus because of the strike or has to delay finding a summer job if the semester is extended.
When it comes down to it, the students (and their families) are PAYING for their education. The faculty are being PAID. How then is it fair that the only ones who really suffer in this situation are the students and their families? They are the only people with no actual say in the matter. Perhaps you should take your own advice (and it is good advice) and think about the issues on the other side. This might help you understand why so many students (who are already in debt / trying to afford tuition / trying to get into a second career / earning minimum wage to support their families and go to school) would say the faculty are greedy. It is hard to feel like either side is fighting for you as you say when really all we see is students being used as pawns (at their own expense of course).
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@ Tired of reading posts by misinformed students
How about this: I am tired of reading your propaganda! You are spreading lies the exact same way a presidential candidate does!
Answer this then!
If you were not using student as bate;
Why did you wait until the second semester to vote and put graduates in a terrible position?
Why did you wait until there was no refundable fees left so we could drop out and get a job to protect ourselves?
why do you pretend you even care?
You LIE!!!!!!!!
The only misinformed person is the person who believes your post!
I saved hard to go to school, but where are my funds going to come from when I miss my co-op placement because of your greed???
Spread your lies elsewhere or grow some balls!
why don’t all schools release the names of those teachers who voted yes for a strike? Because you are all cowards!
You know directly the student you screw over, but we don’t know you.
Reveal your identities you cowards! and face teh resentment you all deserve and stop hiding in the background!
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I have a hard time reading comments from other students that are slagging the faculty. It is easy to blame them because they are the face of the colleges. When you start working and you have an issue with your boss, I hope people are more sympathetic to you.
As well, judging from the way most of you write; maybe this is really about quality education. Perhaps if teachers had more time for assisting students, you wouldn’t be making so many writing errors.
Most of the teachers I have difficulty getting in touch with, or aren’t availlable to assist me are part-time. Part time-teachers are only paid for their class time. Anything else is volunteer. If there were more full-time faculty then we get the outside classroom assistance we want and need.
I ask you this, how many of you would work without getting paid? Before complaining try to see all sides of the equation.
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Why don’t they just get it over with already? i mean they know what they want, the more they drag it on the longer we students suffer wondering when they will strike or if they are even going to strike at all. Didn’t they already vote for a strike? Either negotiate and come to an agreement or strike to prove your point. STOP MAKING THE STUDENTS SUFFER. This is not our battle! We want to learn and get a good career.
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To the many (not all) students who have posted here: please do your research before blaming college faculty. This is NOT about salaries. This is about quality education. Faculty are not being greedy, they are fighting for something they fought for (walked a picket line for) back in 2006. Would you give up something you lost wages on once already? Do you know how hard it would be for them to give that up … not to mention they’d never get it back in any future bargaining.
Some advice: please, instead of getting stressed out, KEEP STUDYING and keep working on your projects and assignments. Faculty do not want you to lose your year. Also helpful would be to read up on the issues and understand why they are fighting for you. One day you may be in their position … wouldn’t you want their support?
Here is one place you can go to read about their side of the story:
http://www.opseu.org/news/press2010/feb-2-2010.htm
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If the strike happens, and our college year is extended, doesn;t that mean 1. shorter summer, for those need summer to make money for next year, 2. 1 more month on rent, since we normally end about mid april, 3 more weeks make use about 1st week of May = 1 more month of rent ;(. 3. if college year not extended, doesn’t that mean we loss out in education for 2-3 weeks, which means that the students should get some of their tuition back, (ie… if 3 weeks, then 3/15 (1/5) of tuition back)
I think students should be allowed in these meetings, since we are the ones being 100% affected by this. We have no hear say to this matter. Yea, we can contact our MPP, but what does that do…… almost nothing, just places a little pressure on one side. Students should be allowed to be part of the talks and place their views. Since the outcome always affects students.
ie… if pay is increase, most likely tuition is increased, if less hours worked = less class time per week, if less education needed to be a teacher = not getting what students paid for. if strike happens = students loss education/work time
Why can’t students vote on these matters, why can’t we be at the tables, why can’t we get what we paid for and worked hard for to get.
I know we most likely won’t miss a school year, but when i hear people say we can just do it next year …. well….. that is one more year. People think this is a 2-3 week holiday, well, if you want a holiday, DON”T GO TO COLLEGE, sit at home and do what you want.
I already been in one college strike, and it was a rip off how the college told us that we just don’t get all the education we paid for.
Basically, Students should have WAY more say, and shouldn’t take this treatment, (ie… pawns of both sides)
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What happens to the students during a strike?!!? I’m nervous
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If the college is closed due to a strike, than obviously students won’t be in classes or labs. In the event of a strike, colleges will publize semester completion strategies and more than likely encourage students to keep up with their projects and assignments.
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This is very frustrating!! Just Say NO to Strike!!!!!!!!!
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Well that conference call was just full of canned answers that I could of gave. It was all pretty much the same question and same answers over and over. Just get this done and over with already. Seriously quit wasting the students time!
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If they vote to accept the offer then the strike will be called off. If they don’t accept the offer then they strike
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So, what this means is yes=no strike and no=strike….. but if the vote happens after the 11th will the strike already be on?? or will they postpone the strike until this vote has gone through?
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Given the importance of this vote, it is expected that the OLRB will try and make it happen before the deadline date of the 11th.
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Time to sit back and enjoy my vacation then.
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This is absolutely ridiculous. Getting that vote organized is going to take wayyyyyyyyyyy too long. By the time they have it organized, we’re going to be on school break because of the strike. Like seriously, they shouldve organized this vote months ago. It wouldve solved alot of aggravation and time and money.
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Okay, soooo. As of RIGHT now there is going to be a strike on february 11th?
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No, we won’t know for certain until after the faculty have an opportunity to vote on the college’s final offer. A date is being set for that vote right now by the Ontario Labour Relations Board.
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Its a blame passing game and neither side wants to be the side having to make the decision, cause now they are going to place the pressure on the teachers insead…
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Why oh why did this sillt council wait until NOW to hold a vote? They could have done it in October, November, December, or January — they could have even done it during the faculty strike vote two weeks ago!!! This is nuts — they reject arbitration to avoid a strike, and will end up having a “Final Offer Vote” right in the damn middle of a strike! WTF??? The labour relations board takes at least 3 weeks to setup a vote across the province, and then the votes have to be verified. If the faculty are already on strike, it is a bloody stupid and useless vote because we will have already missed class for weeks! I’m bloody pissed!!! Just go to arbitration and end this stupid game now!!
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i dont get it
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Great too see this isn’t being thrown off to an arbitrary, this needs to be settled by the parties involved. Also, remind me if I’m wrong, but didn’t the union vote on the “final” offer and refused already? It’s great to see everyone at least cooperating to try to resolve this, but looking at the offers from each side, both already went up and over my expectations for pay raise and student/time management. 7.7% over 4 years is reasonable, even though I’m not sure if even that is manageable by the government.
All I can say, is get ready for an extended Reading Week…
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Strike is near
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So, what happens if they vote to accept the offer, or don’t accept the offer?
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