OPSEU ramps up pressure as full-time support staff strike wraps up fourth week

The Ontario Public Service Employees Union has ramped up pressure on picket line at Loyalist College in Belleville.

For the first time since full-time support staff went on strike September 11th, those entering and existing Loyalist today in vehicles have been experiencing longer delays.

OPSEU would not reveal to 91X how long traffic will be stopped each time, but an agreement has been reached with Belleville Police, who are actively on scene monitoring traffic. Union members are handing out pamphlets to drivers, encouraging people to reach out to Loyalist College President and CEO Mark Kirkpatrick, to tell him how the strike has had an impact on them personally.

The surprise move across Loyalist and several other colleges, was directed by upper leadership at OPSEU.

Striking Loyalist staff were joined on the picket line by OPSEU members from St. Lawrence College, Seneca College, and Algonquin College, along with union colleagues from Saskatchewan. Two bus loads of supporters showed up at Loyalist to join OPSEU President JP Hornick for a press conference this morning.

The George Brown professor with a 16-year-old at home, emphasized that colleges were founded on the principle of public access, and need to continue to be open, accessible, and responsive to community needs. Hornick added that the moves by the Ontario government under the Skills Development Fund, are making it clear that privatization of public education continues to be in the works.

“We have obtained copies of corporate audits of 10 Ontario Colleges called Efficiency Reviews, that were commissioned by the Ford government. These audits map out ways that colleges can cut costs, but by any cost, from outsourcing and offshoring jobs to automation, to recommending further mergers and reckless cutbacks. They indicate the new vision for post-secondary education. If it doesn’t generate a profit, it’s not worth funding,” said Hornick to a crowd of over 200 people.

OPSEU continues to call for job security for full-time support staff, adding that they are skilled labour that can not be filled by managers.

The union continues to call for the College Employer Council to come back to the table and talk about job security, along with a stable living.

A province-appointed mediator brought the two-sides back to the table on September 26th, talks broke down after three days.

91X has reached out to the Loyalist College management team for comment. The team has noted in a statement today that classes continue as scheduled and the College is open. Students will not be penalized for arriving late to class due to the picket action.

The union has not revealed whether they plan to further delay traffic for the rest of the week.