From the March 22nd Web version of the CTV news: http://www.ctv.ca

Negotiations continue under media blackout

CTV.ca News Staff

Talks between striking college instructors and management have entered day three of negotiations, but a media blackout is keeping both sides from revealing if any progress is being made at the negotiation table.

"I'm not in a position to give you any information whatsoever," OPSEU negotiator Ted Montgomery said Wednesday morning.

A provincial government mediator is managing the negotiations at The Royal York.

When talks began on Monday, the mediator imposed a media blackout. While there is no indication on how the negotiations are going, it appears both sides are still talking.

Montgomery told CTV's Austin Delaney that he hasn't been outside since negotiations began, but refused to elaborate, saying he will not violate the blackout.

"Blackout simply means that there's no communication at all, neither good news nor bad news, just blackout."

The strike, by about 9,100 faculty members from 24 Ontario colleges, has affected more than 150,000 students.

The decision to start talking came after both sides met Friday morning with Ontario Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities Chris Bentley.

The teachers, counsellors and librarians say class sizes are at the heart of this walkout. The union wants to see the number of students per classroom reduced from 29 to 25. Furthermore, they want to secure more full-time teachers and faculty time for students.

The College Compensation and Appointments Council, which represents management for the colleges, claims the union's workload demands would cost the system $135 million.