OPSEU files historic union certification application in Ontario

Seeking legal right to bargain on behalf of part-time workers at Ontario's 24 community colleges

Toronto (15 April 2008) - The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE) has applied to the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) for recognition as the legal bargaining agent for part-time and sessional workers at Ontario's 24 community colleges.

“To the best of our knowledge, this application covers more workers than any application for certification by any trade union in Ontario history,” says OPSEU president Warren (Smokey) Thomas.

“We are excited at the prospect of representing college part-timers and sessionals and we are asking the (board) to order a certification vote as soon as possible.”

With close to 7,000 cards signed, the union has demonstrated that a substantial number of college workers want OPSEU as their bargaining agent, Thomas said.

“A certification vote will allow the union to demonstrate, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the large majority of part-timers and sessionals want OPSEU to represent them.”

Roger Couvrette, president of the provincial organization of college part-timers and sessionals (OPSECAAT), said OPSEU’s application is “an historic moment” and there is no good reason why the employees should wait any longer for the chance to be unionized.

“All the parties with an interest in this issue have publicly voiced their support for bargaining rights for part-timers and sessionals,” said Couvrette.

“It’s time to make those rights real. Close to 7,000 hardworking Ontarians have signed union cards with OPSEU. We are knocking on a door that has been closed to us for too long, and we want in. An immediate certification vote is the key that will open the door to collective bargaining.”

The union has asked the OLRB to supervise a province-wide vote over a two-week period. Based on past practice, the board could make a decision this week and order a vote to begin as early as Monday, April 21.

“The moment we hear that a vote has been scheduled, all the energies of our union will be channeled towards getting that vote out,” said Thomas. “I will be calling on all OPSEU members and all future OPSEU members to help out, so be ready." NUPGE