College Employer Council stands by offer

Days away from the two-week mark, and with both sides away from the bargaining table, the College Employer Council is still standing behind the offer faculty hit the picket line to fight.

The council - which negotiates on behalf Ontario’s 24 public colleges, including Fleming College in Peterborough - sent a bulletin to striking Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) members Thursday, outlining its position and what it sees is the path forward for ending the provincewide job action.

“We had hoped that the union would accept the colleges’ final offer, or, at the very least, put the colleges’ final offer forward to its members for a vote,” the emailed statement read.

The council said its final offer was “comparable to, or better than” recent agreements made with teachers, college support staff and other public sector employees.

As for getting back to the bargaining table, the council said the decision is the union’s to make.

“The colleges believe the offer is a reasonable basis for settlement,” the statement read.

“We hope that the governmentappointed mediator will indicate soon that the union wishes to address the issues in a positive manner so that he can bring the parties together.”

Firing back, OPSEU bargaining team member Darryl Bedford questioned the timing of the notice, saying it was patronizing, unnecessary propaganda.

“They’re ignoring the technicalities that are in our offer,” he said. “That communication was very upsetting to a lot of people.”

Bedford said the council could go to the Ministry of Labour and force a vote on their offer, but they haven’t. With the stalemate showing no signs of breaking, the union is planning a rally at Queen’s Park on Thursday.

“Our spirits are strong and it’s very clear what we’re fighting against,” Bedford said.

Meanwhile, talks of a different kind - between eight student leaders from across Ontarioand Advanced Education Minister Deb Matthews, OPSEU and council bargaining team members - went better on Thursday.

“It went extremely well, very productive,” said Fanshawe Student Union president Morganna Sampson.

“We asked them some questions and got a lot of answers. It gives us a hopeful outlook that the bargaining teams are aware that it’s causing undue stress.”