• Stories
  • Local Union Histories
  • Resources
  • Timeline
  • Activities
  • Map

TYRLC 150 years

On January 10, 2018 history was made as the largest organizing drive in Canada in this century resulted in giving union voice to 20,000 workers.

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Largest Organizing Drive This Century

On January 10, 2018, history was made as the largest organizing drive in Canada in this century resulted in giving union voice to 20,000 workers. The certification vote for part-time support staff at 24 Community Colleges held in June 2016 was finally counted, and 84% of ballots cast were to join OPSEU.

The union already represented all full-time faculty and support staff at the colleges, and started pressuring the Ontario government in 2004 to make changes to the College Collective Bargaining Act to grant part time support staff to the right to unionize. The changes were won in 2008, and OPSEU made its first attempt to organize but was not successful. The nature of part-time work in 24 colleges with a hundred campuses added to the difficulty of organizing. With a 30% staff turnover per year, job roles vary greatly; from student ambassadors to mechanics, advisors, library techs, to IT support roles. Winning a threshold of signed cards required a new organizing strategy. With workers spread out across the province, the campaign came up with a number of creative strategies to get union cards signed.

Holding meetings was not enough. Irregular schedules and some CAAT-PT staff work off campus resulted in a strong online element being developed using social media and a game app to help staff to get cards signed. Getting the vote out, though a daunting task, was successful thanks to local labour councils and volunteers who stepped up and helped OPSEU organizers and part time support staff who were active on the campaign.

OPSEU’s successful organizing shows that precarious workers can be organized in non-traditional workplaces. Creative use of technology, a big commitment by existing unions, and worker tenacity are key to future victories.

More story posts about Solidarity
Prev post
Next post
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Proudly supported by

AMAPCEOpng
ATU, Local 113png
ufcw 175 633png
Carpenters & Allied Workers, Local 27png
CUPE, Local 416png
CUPE, Local 79png
CUPW, Torontopng
IATSE, Local 873png
IBEW, Local 353png
LiUNA! Local 183png
OECTA, York Regionpng
SEIU Healthcarepng
Toronto Firefighters, Local 3888png
UA, Local 46png
liuna local 506png
uswpng
toronto education workerspng
the societypng

Get updates when new content is added

Name
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
  • Resources
  • Upcoming events
  • Follow us on Youtube
  • Follow us on Instagram
  • Follow us on Twitter
  • Follow us on Facebook

A Toronto and York Region Labour Council website Contact us

Built by Campaign Gears

Initial logo design by Samantha Pollock