The Ontario College strike has been called off and Fleming College has resumed classes after the College Employer Council and the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) have agreed to enter binding interest arbitration announced Thursday night.
Fleming College last had a strike in late 2017 college strike that lasted from roughly five weeks. Roughly 500,000 Ontario students were affected by the provincial college strike. Photo courtesy of Fleming College.
"We are pleased to announce that the College Employer Council and the OPSEU academic union have agreed to enter binding interest arbitration and the strike that was scheduled to commence on Friday, March 18 is called off,” said Fleming College in a statement. “Classes will run as scheduled. We would like to thank everyone for their patience, understanding and professionalism during these negotiations.”
“We are pleased to advise that after 12 hours at the bargaining table, the parties have agreed to unconditional interest arbitration on both parties’ outstanding issues. Hearing dates mutually convenient to the parties will be scheduled soon,” said Dr. Laurie Rancourt, Chair of the Management bargaining team. “We remain committed to putting students and their education first”.
With the strike called off, Peterborough Transit has returned to regular routes serving Fleming College and the surrounding area.
Fleming College announced they will begin a full strike this Friday unless management agrees to return to bargaining or accept final interest arbitration.
Fleming College last had a strike in late 2017 college strike that lasted from roughly five weeks. Roughly 500,000 Ontario students were affected by the provincial college strike. Photo courtesy of Fleming College.
The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) represents roughly 16,000 faculty staff at 24 Ontario colleges. They notified the College Employer Council of the deadline, gave an open letter to college presidents and asked them to agree to the union’s proposal.
"Our members are fighting for the best education for students," said JP Hornick, OPSEU bargaining team chair. "We haven't made any unreasonable demands, and everything we have asked for is easily achievable."
Union members rejected a final offer from the council last month.
If a strike occurs, all in-person, hybrid, and online classes at all Fleming College campuses will be suspended. This includes full-time and part-time classes, on-campus continuing education classes, dual credit classes and apprenticeships. Fleming has yet to address student placements.
All Fleming campuses remain open during the possible strike as College staff will be crossing picket lines.
UPDATE: SEPTEMBER 13th, 3:30 p.m. Here's the latest from CHEX Newswatch's Greg Davis on the Fleming strike, the picket line, the students and the growing frustration on both sides.
UPDATE: SEPTEMBER 9th, 10:32 a.m.BREAKING NEWS: From Special Peterborough Lakefield Community Police Service Release...
Youtube video leads to arrest:
Further to the youtube video that circulated that depicted a vehicle driving through the strike line at Sir Sandford Fleming College and the ongoing police investigation. On the 9th of September 2011 20 year old Isaac Tilstra of Peterborough turned himself into the Peterborough Police station. Tilstra is charged with Dangerous Driving and was held for a bail hearing on the 9th of September 2011 to begin the process to determine his guilt or innocence.
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UPDATE: Dumb and Dumber had the slight smarts to remove the video, but Donald Fraser over at Small Print blog made a copy before they did so which has now been passed around. So, if you haven't watched it, here it is:
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ORIGINAL POST
Sure frustation is mounting at the long lines, but this is utterly unexcusable. Someone could have been seriously hurt. Listen as the driver speeds up as he approaches the line. And they laugh about it. Dumb and dumber.
