Colleges claim errors in OPSEU news releases

NEWS RELEASE

ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES OF APPLIED ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY OF ONTARIO

******************** Corrections to OPSEU news releases TORONTO, March 25 - Two news releases issued by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) on March 24 and March 25 contained a number of significant errors that need to be corrected.

1) In a news release issued today, OPSEU questioned the fact that some Ontario college classes will begin on Tuesday and Wednesday.

In fact, colleges have been implementing Semester Completion Strategies to ensure that students are able to complete their semesters and fulfill their program requirements.

It is appropriate after being out of class for three weeks that faculty need time to prepare for the return of students.

Colleges intend to work with their professional faculty to ensure proper academic planning that will best serve students.

2) In a news release issued on March 24, OPSEU had incorrect information about the agreed-upon process for resolving outstanding issues from the bargaining table.

Contrary to what was stated in the OPSEU news release, the parties have agreed to a mediation/arbitration process.

In this process, the arbitrator will seek to resolve the contract issues through mediation, in the hope of achieving a negotiated agreement.

If there are issues that need to be arbitrated, the arbitrator will determine the process or processes for the arbitration of the issues.

In contrast to what was stated in the OPSEU news release, the parties have not agreed to immediately send the issues to interest arbitration (the process that OPSEU proposed on March 22).

It is hoped these corrections clarify any confusion.

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