On Day 5 of the college teachers strike the instructors took their message to Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli.

They held an protest outside his office and asked him to carry a message back to Queens Park for the province to play a role in getting negotiations moving.

John Patterson speaks for the instructors at Canadore.

“The college employers have refused to negotiate. We need them to. We have been willing to negotiate all along. We need a deal so we can get back in the classroom.”

Fedeli says he will carry that message to the government on Monday.

Patterson says the big issue is not enough full time instructors.

Patterson says he understands students aren’t happy that their studies are being impacted by this dispute but asks that they look at the big picture.

“Kind of think ahead a few years. Do they really want to be in part time precarious work themselves. I’m sure they would really like to be in good stable jobs.”
The colleges have challenged the teachers negotiators to let their members vote on the latest offer which was before the strike.

Patterson says that offer has already been rejected and any offer that the teachers vote on should be negotiated and that hasn’t happened.

Filed under: MPP Vic Fedeli, teachers strike