Notes From the Brockville Campus Picket Lines

by Lynne Gardiner  Phone: 340-6224

Notes from March 16th

Notes from March 17th

Monday, March 20, 2006

 Hello Everyone,

I hope you had a quiet and restful weekend. 

 Today, a good number of us joined faculty from Loyalist, La Cite, and Algonquin at a rally outside of Dalton McGuinty’s office in Ottawa .  We were pleased to have the opportunity to picket with so many other people despite the bitterly cold weather.  I’d like to thank all of you who joined the rally, and all of you who braved the cold to keep the picket lines open in Brockville .  Your commitment is amazing!  

We were horrified and saddened to learn about the accident on the picket line at Centennial College .  For those of you who were unaware, one of the faculty was struck by a vehicle that gunned the line.  This faculty member was badly injured and in critical care at Sunnybrook Hospital , with what we have heard is severe head injuries.  The Centennial local has asked for all who are so inclined, to please offer prayers for this faculty member.  Additionally, the person who hit this gentleman apparently was quite young, and has been charged. 

 All of this begs a reminder to please, above all else, stay safe on the lines. 

 Announcements:

1)      The first week pay is in!  Please see Jim Miller for your cheques (2 – one from OPSEU, one from the LEC).

2)      This  week, the strike pay will be increased so that you’re receiving $300 from the LEC, $125 from OPSEU, and your dependents allowance.  Hopefully this will help ease some of the financial pressures people are experiencing.

3)      This weeks’ picket duty is now posted in the trailer.

4)      There are extra raincoats in the trailer.  Please feel free to use them at any time – even if you just need to have an extra windbreak.

5)      Please help me out by keeping record (in the trailer) of all the donations to the line.  We have a couple of people working on thank you notes for the donations thus far, and I really want the donors to be aware of our gratitude.

 

In solidarity,

Lynne