Tentative deal reached. Sault College strike averted

NEWS RELEASES

COLLEGES ONTARIO

COLLEGE STUDENT ALLIANCE

************************* College support staff reach tentative agreement TORONTO - (August 31) - Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) representing college support staff and the College Compensation and Appointments Council representing the 24 colleges in Ontario, announced today that a tentative agreement has been reached averting a possible province-wide strike. A ratification vote conducted by the Ministry of Labour will be held in the near future, when terms of the agreement will be released.

************************* Students relieved support staff strike averted in the eleventh hour TORONTO - (Aug. 31) - College and college/university students across the province are pleased that a province-wide support staff strike was averted by eleventh-hour negotiations, says the College Student Alliance (CSA). "Students are relieved to be greeted by college support staff workers inside the college in frontline services rather then on the picket line," says Jenn Howarth, president of the College Student Alliance. "Students will now be able to access essential services and move about campuses with ease, knowing that all staff - administration, faculty and support staff - are there to assist them." After eight months of meetings, negotiations and a provincial mediator both the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) and the College Compensation and Appointments Council were able to reach a tentative agreement for all full-time support staff workers across the province.

This new agreement will be brought to the membership for a ratification vote in the coming weeks. "We are pleased that both sides were able to reach a new agreement prior to the starting of classes on Tuesday," adds Ms. Howarth. "Students can now excel both in and out of the classroom and create positive relationships with all members of the college community."

The College Student Alliance (CSA) is an advocacy and services organization which has been proudly serving Ontario's college students since 1967.

The CSA currently represents 16 colleges and 23 student councils with over 109,000 full-time student members throughout the province.

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