By David Helwig
SooToday.com
Wednesday, June 28, 2006

NEWS RELEASES

SAULT COLLEGE STUDENT
ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL

COLLEGE STUDENT ALLIANCE

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Here at the Student Administrative Council of Sault College, we are extremely pleased that these labour negotiations have come to an end.

It is refreshing that everyone involved has found some common ground.

- Stefan E. Shynkorenko, v.p. communications

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Settlement finally reached after 18 months of negotiations

Toronto, ON – Ontario college and college/university students are pleased to hear after 18 months of negotiations and an 18-day faculty strike that the arbitrator has released his ruling today establishing a new four-year collective agreement for the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) and the College Compensation and Appointments Council (The Council).

"College and college/university students can now finally breathe easy knowing that their postsecondary education career will not be interrupted by another work stoppage in the near future," says Matt Jackson, president of the College Student Alliance (CSA). "The effect of the strike was felt by all 150,000 full-time college and college/university students and over 350,000 part-time students, whose education and training were stopped abruptly after both sides could not reach an agreement before March 6, 2006."

Today’s ruling by Arbitrator, William Kaplan, takes into consideration many of the demands that were issued on March 16, 2006 by the College Student Alliance.

The new agreement establishes a new workload task force, which is mandated to discuss and examine the issues related to workload assignment for all full-time faculty.

As well the agreement includes a fair and reasonable salary increase over the next four years that will appropriately compensate our hard-working faculty for their commitment and dedication to delivering high quality education without financially bankrupting college students.

"It is important that we do not lose sight of the importance of postsecondary education and its seamless delivery as we move forward into a new academic year in September," says Tyler Charlebois, director of advocacy. "Ontario's economic prosperity and competitive
advantage is contingent on all Ontarian’s receiving a high quality education."

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Earlier today

Sault College profs get a 15 percent raise (updated)