In a defiant move, the union representative for Fanshawe College's striking faculty tore up the College Employer Council's offer from earlier this month, telling a crowd of hundreds gathered in Victoria Park "that's what I think of their offer."
The Thursday rally at the downtown park preceded a march to Deputy Premier and London North Centre MPP Deb Matthews' constituency office on Piccadilly St. The college's instructors, counselors, and librarians, who have been off the job since October 16, were joined by students and members from other unions.
Chanting "what do we want? Fairness. When do we want it? Now," the group, with the help of a police escort, made its way down Richmond St. and onto Piccadily St. Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) Local 110 President Darryl Bedford then marched inside the office with a letter for Matthews that demands the provincial government order the council back to the bargaining table.
Striking faculty from Fanshawe College march down Richmond St., October 26, 2017.
"She is not just an innocent bystander here. She can make sure that they get back to the table. We want to get back to the table as soon as possible," said Bedford. "It is not enough for Deb to say that it is not okay that the parties aren't talking. It's not enough for her to say that she is deeply troubled. She is in a position as the minister responsible to make something happen."
Matthews serves as the minister for advanced education and skills development. She was not at her constituency office when the letter was delivered but did meet with college student leaders at Queen’s Park in Toronto Thursday morning.
“I am always encouraged to see students engaging in the democratic process and advocating on behalf of their peers. Students are our top priority through this process and I know they have real and understandable concerns about the impact this strike may have on their education," Matthews said in a statement issued after the meeting. "While my ministry has no direct involvement in the collective bargaining process, we are committed to doing everything we can to connect students to the resources they need to stay informed. I encourage students to continue to make their voices heard and urge both parties back to the table to get an agreement that quickly that puts students back in the classroom.”
Matthews offered no comment on the letter delivered to her office by union members.
Roughly 12,000 faculty members from Ontario's 24 public colleges have been on the picket line for 11 days. The two sides have not met since the start of October and no new talks have been scheduled. That is despite the OPSEU bargaining team, which Bedford is a member of, making it clear it is more than willing to resume negotiations.
Bedford said he hopes by ripping up the offer, the council will finally understand the union will never accept that deal and return to the table.
"They don't seem to take no for an answer. So maybe it takes a visible demonstration," said Bedford. "But here is the thing, they think that our members will just accept the language that is in the offer without thinking it is going to cause any harm down the road. People see through it."
OPSEU Local 110 President Darryl Bedford
Job security is a key bargaining issue for the union. It is asking for a 50/50 split of full time and contract positions and an increased role in academic decision-making. Currently, 68% of the faculty at Fanshawe are lower paid contract employees.
Kristy-Beth Kelly, a nearly ten-year full-time English professor at Fanshawe, said while walking the picket line can be tedious, faculty members are prepared to do whatever it takes to get a fair deal.
"We are all in this together and we realize that this isn't just about our jobs now, it's about future generations and a social movement," said Kelly. "Full time jobs have been eroded in many sectors and there is a lot more people with precarious work situations and so we are here fighting on behalf of non full time faculty members but also the future of good jobs in Ontario."
Fanshawe Building Technology Professor Jim Leslie believes students and members of the public are on the union's side.
"We are getting great support from students who understand the issues. People who are starting to learn and understand it's not about money. We get paid well, we are comfortable with what we are paid, but what we are trying to do is stand up for part time colleagues who are getting abused," said Leslie.
