Strike averted at Sault College

There will be no strike by support staff at Sault College and Ontario's 23 other community colleges, the Ontario Public Service Emmployees Union (OPSEU) announced tonight.

The suppport workers province-wide have voted 79 per cent in favour of a two-year deal that provides a three per cent wage hike as of September 1, 2003, a further three per cent increase on September 1, 2004, and a final 0.5 per cent raise on April 1, 2005.

Voter turnout was 74 per cent.

The following is the full text of a news release issued by OPSEU:

************************************************************** College support staff ratify contract, avert strike

TORONTO, Dec. 18 - Support staff at Ontario's 24 community colleges ratified a new collective agreement today, averting a strike by 7,000 members of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union.

The workers voted 79 per cent in favour of the two-year deal. Voter turnout was 74 per cent.

"This contract is a strong step forward for our members," said Marilou Martin-Benoit, chair of the OPSEU bargaining team.

"Some of the improvements we negotiated are real breakthroughs." For the first time, support staff at community colleges have achieved parity with faculty for most benefits, including dental and hearing care and extended health services.

The contract also spells out new rights for summer students and new job security protections. Wages will rise across the board by 3 per cent as of Sept. 1, 2003, a further 3 per cent on Sept. 1, 2004, and a final 0.5 per cent on April 1, 2005.

The contract expires Aug. 31, 2005. Members of the support staff group provide a wide range of services at the colleges, including information technology, maintenance, technical, early childhood education, and clerical support for student loans, library, registrar's office, accounting and others.

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