TO:             All Faculty

FROM:       Ted Montgomery, Negotiating Team Chair

DATE:        March 9, 2006

Some members have expressed concerns about the media coverage of the faculty strike.  I have been in touch with locals around the province and can tell you that both inside and outside of Toronto there has been considerable coverage.  Naturally, there is much complaint about the strike, and some focus on salary, but when one reads through that initial layer there is increasing support for the real issues our issues.

We know that management has been investing heavily in trying to focus on salary.  Media, looking for a quick hit, often grab onto that.  But, increasingly, the issue of smaller class size and more full-time teachers is being reported and highlighted.  Interviews with students almost always begin with the student’s frustration but move on to the students’ concerns about class size.

That the Toronto Sun gets it wrong and blames the teachers is not surprising.  All the private media are owned by corporations and seldom if ever side with any workers in a labour dispute.  Compared to other strikes (and even lockouts for those who remember the hockey dispute) we have done far better than workers usual.

We have constantly pointed out – and it has been picked up on radio and TV – that we are seeking the implementation of the Rae Report findings as they pertain to quality and to student/teacher interaction. Faculty demands also highlight the critical support of other educational professionals – counsellors and librarians.  Give students more quality contact time with their teachers.  Rae, without overtly taking sides, has re-endorsed that goal. 

Premier McGuinty and Minister Bentley have also commented.  Keep in mind that the government are on the employer’s side of the table.  Nevertheless, they have not taken sides in their public statements.  While we would love for them to say that they side with faculty that is not gong to happen. But neither have they endorsed the position of college management .  All they are saying is that bargaining should resume.

We agree – the sooner the better and with a serious new offer on the table.  The offer that produced a 96% rejection and a nearly 81% strike vote obviously will not be ratified.  To make an offer late on March 6^th that was knowingly and admittedly worse than that tabled previously was clearly intended to provoke a strike not find a settlement.

The propaganda machine of ACAATO under the direction of David Lindsay, Mike Harris’ former Chief Aide, has been hard at work denigrating faculty.  OPSEU is researching the province-wide media coverage and will be reporting back on that shortly.

Ted Montgomery, for the team