Fears of a college strike are over, but faculty members still aren’t fully satisfied.
Ontario college teachers have agreed to a three-year deal, but less than two thirds support it.
The vote passed by just 61 percent, helped along by a significant 99 percent vote of support at Fanshawe College.
Darryl Bedford, OPSEU Local 110 President for Fanshawe College, says there are a number of things the union will be looking to address next time around.
“Turning over some programs to private colleges, a move that we see as further corporatization of education… that’s wrong. We don’t want to head in that direction,” Bedford says. “For the next three years, we’re going to have to raise awareness of these issues.”
Bedford adds that the union needs to be prepared to counter the colleges’ less-desirable plans in 2017.
“Really, the preparations start tomorrow,” Bedford laughs. “We then start getting ready for the next negotiation, so our work is not over. We’ve got a lot more to do.”
