- Day 4

Dear Sheridan,
Tomorrow our first week ends. Your Union Local Executive Committee is meeting after the final shift to debrief on the week, make plans to improve our routines and distribute your payments, and most important, to discuss the challenges we encountered.
Tonight, a member was cornered at her car, by a male who was upset about being delayed by the picket line. He put his arms up in a u shape around her and asked how she like to be closed in. I left the Traf picket line just before this assault took place, so that was the extent of what I know right now. This is the sixth ‘incident’ at Traf picket lines. We will investigate more closely tomorrow.  If anyone has pictures, please send them to me.
There was also the traumatic accident earlier this week near the Davis campus. The Lambton student who was hit on Tuesday underwent surgery yesterday and is in critical condition. Mary Preece has asked me to convey her gratitude to our faculty who were the first responders engaged in the early hours of this crisis. And on behalf of all faculty I convey the pride we feel in our colleagues who sprang to the challenge of caring for the seriously injured victims until medics arrived. Needless to say, some members have had more than their share of stress this week. To that end, I am attaching an EAP pamphlet with information on where to find support. The union will be glad to reach out with you, if you would like. One of our stewards is a counsellor, perhaps she can advise as you reach out for professional assistance.
But there were many good things happening this week as well. Foremost is the camaraderie of colleagues, and friendliness of our public approach. And there were visits with food donations and greetings from sympathetic unions and our own managers. Our STC veterans brought stove and barbecues and made breakfast at Davis this morning and they’re taking their Picket-line Catering to Traf tomorrow morning. The weather was good, except for Monday which had some good moments. Most people were supportive. We got some good press. And our trailers finally arrived. By the way, it was a Sheridan grad managing the office that rents-out trailers.
There is a GTA rally planned for next Wednesday October 25 at the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development (MAESD) offices at 900 Bay Street in TO. Details will follow. If you attend it will certainly count as a picket shift. We had many great moments and the ideas they inspired are churning for social-media campaigning, flyer and poster creation – see the attached zip file.
As I started the week, I would again like to thank you all for your contributions, good spirits and collegiality. My gratitude is boundless for your picketing solidarity, but more for the important mission we share – to prepare the next generation to enter the workforce or go for higher degrees, and to mature into responsible citizenship.
Stay strong,
Jack

Jack Urowitz,
President, OPSEU Local 244
Sheridan Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning
(905) 845-9430 Extension 2832
Union Office 4065