Unionized college faculty left with ‘no choice’ but to ask province to appoint a conciliator
Posted Jul 13, 2017 06:45:37 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The union representing staff at Conestoga College and Ontario’s 23 other community colleges, says it’s asking the province for help reaching a new collective agreement, because the College Employer Council doesn’t want to give up power.
OPSEU has filed for conciliation, after it says a proposed plan for academic decision-making through collegial governance was shot down by management.
Nicole Zwiers with OPSEU’S bargaining team tells 570 NEWS, management’s bargaining team is refusing to consider the model even though it’s already in place at Sheridan College.
“We’re suggesting that we let everyone make the decision that their experts in, so our proposal is that faculty make the academic decisions and the administrators make the business decisions,” she says. “Unfortunately management doesn’t seem to imagine letting go of that control.”
Talks began on July 4th, with OPSEU putting the request in this week for a conciliator. If it fails, either side can start the clock ticking towards a legal strike or lockout deadline.
“Our view is always with settling the contract that is set to expire September 30th,” Zwiers says.
