- Rally at MAESD

Striking faculty to rally at Ministry of Advanced Education


Good Evening Sheridan Colleagues,
I’m writing earlier tonight to be sure that everyone knows the new details about tomorrow. The rally is a go. The College Convoy and Go Train Gang have asked me to let you know that they will be meeting at 8:30 instead of 9:00, to be sure to get downtown TO for 10:00. They are meeting in the parking lot just outside the Trafalgar Campus Strike trailer.
We were pleasantly surprised at the number of people who intend to go, and so our plans for signing in, as prescribed by our Divisional Leaders, seem impossible. So, we are on the honour system. Just let your picket captain on Thursday or Friday know you were there and – sing the rap song that Mohammed Ali will sing (see lineup below) and you will be credited with a four-hour shift. Just kidding about the rap song. There is no reason to seek me, David or Terry out other than to high-five us in solidarity.
It is vital that the public gets our message. If the College Employment Council won’t even address our concerns, then being legislated back to work, with an arbitrator to mediate a decision, is in everybody’s interest. Only the politicians (that’s you Kathleen Wynne) can do that. So, the more of us who show up, the more coverage we get, the closer we will be to get back to our students, Ontario’s children!
The regular Sheridan picket is still in effect. There is a Striketoberfest breakfast still on at Davis. To all captains at Davis and Trafalgar, if your numbers are few because your colleagues are at the rally, consolidate into one instead of two entrances, for safety’s sake.
Here’s the latest press release on the rally:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                   October 24, 2017
Striking faculty to rally at Ministry of Advanced Education
TORONTO - Striking college faculty, students and allies from across the labour movement will rally in downtown Toronto Wednesday. The rally will call on Advanced Education Minister Deb Matthews to send Ontario colleges back to the bargaining table with clear direction to bargain a fair collective agreement.
Date: Wednesday, October 25, 2017
Time: 11 a.m. to 12 noon
Place: Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development, 900 Bay Street (southwest corner of Bay and Wellesley), Toronto
Speakers at the rally will include:
  • Warren (Smokey) Thomas, President, Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU)
  • JP Hornick, chair, OPSEU college faculty bargaining team
  • Contract faculty members from GTA colleges
  • Pam Frache, Ontario Coordinator, Fight for $15 and Fairness
Special Guest:
  • Mohammad Ali, the Socialist Vocalist (socialist hip hop)
More than 12,000 faculty at all 24 public colleges across the province have been on strike since October 16.
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See you there,
Jack

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