Your College Faculty Part-Time and Sessional Bargaining Team returned to the table today with the College Employer Council (CEC).
https://opseu.org/college-faculty-part-time-and-sessional-update-13-back-at-the-table/
This was our sixth bargaining session as we work towards our first part-time and sessional faculty collective agreement.
Response to Employer:
We replied to the CEC’s “comprehensive” non-monetary proposal (M1) by communicating our disappointment with the lack of substance in what they provided.
We expressed that the bare minimum legislated requirements included in a number of their M1 proposals are insufficient to address the needs, priorities, and realities of our members.
We also noted our concern that certain proposed articles included more restrictive language than what has already been developed for the other college bargaining units.
The employer’s proposal is largely silent on the major issues that part-time and sessional faculty have identified as priorities, including job security and precarious employment.
We must aim higher. What we need is a collective agreement that can address and remedy the worsening structural issues faced by contract college faculty.
Union Proposals:
Your bargaining team will continue to present proposals that have been thoughtfully developed to address our members’ needs.
We continue to affirm that every proposal must be a building block toward a better Ontario public college system.
Our members deserve a fulsome response from the CEC to each of our tabled proposals.
Two new proposals were introduced by the union at today’s bargaining session: U8 Union/College Committee (Local) and U9 Health and Safety.
U8 Rationale:
Recognizing that this will be the first Collective Agreement for this Bargaining Unit, and that misunderstandings, disagreements, and/or differences in the application of the language within this Agreement may arise at individual colleges, we propose the creation of a joint union-college committee to clarify, discuss, and address these matters in a productive and proactive manner.
U9 Rationale:
Every employee deserves to feel safe, supported, and valued when they come to work. Robust health and safety language provides reassurance that raising a concern, identifying and refusing unsafe work, or seeking support will not come at the cost of future employment, especially for part-time and sessional faculty, whose employment is already precarious.
Next Bargaining Date:
Our next bargaining date will be October 28, 2026.
The strength of our bargaining position depends on having members who understand the process, recognize the challenges ahead, and remain united throughout negotiations.
In solidarity,
Your College Faculty Part-Time and Sessional Bargaining Team:
Patricia Tuff, Humber Polytechnic, L562 (Chair)
Greg Dickson, Loyalist College, L420 (Vice-Chair & Secretary)
Sarah Gayer, Seneca Polytechnic, L560
Mirna Iskandar, Conestoga/Sheridan College, L237/244
Natalia Komorowsky, Centennial College/Humber Polytechnic, L558/562
Lisa Macdonald, St. Lawrence College, L417
William Payne, George Brown/Humber Polytechnic, L556/562
Martin Lee, Algonquin College, L415 (Advisor)
Pearline Lung, Humber Polytechnic, L562 (Advisor)