Wednesday class start 'absolutely inexcusable,' union says

NEWS RELEASE

ONTARIO PUBLIC SERVICE EMPLOYEES UNION

******************* Keeping students out of class Monday "inexcusable and incomprehensible," union says

TORONTO, March 25 - Less than a day after signing an agreement to end an 18-day faculty strike, management at Ontario's community colleges is dragging its heels about getting students back to class. Several colleges, including Fanshawe (London), Georgian (Barrie/Midland), and Seneca (Toronto) are telling students that classes won't resume until Tuesday or even Wednesday.

Sault College announces return to classes "This is absolutely inexcusable and totally incomprehensible," said Ted Montgomery, chair of the faculty bargaining team of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union.

"College management announced their Semester Completion Strategies 12 days ago. It certainly calls into question their competence if, after 12 days of planning, they can't have the colleges up and running on Monday." Montgomery said not starting classes on Monday was "a recipe for chaos," as not all students will consult their college web site before coming into class. "The doors will be open, the faculty will be there, and some students will show up, but there won't be any classes at these colleges," he said.

"It's absurd. Yesterday Premier McGuinty said he wanted to see students back in the classroom on Monday," said Montgomery. "It's time college management got its act together."

OPSEU corrects its news releases *********************