Media Advisory: Sid Ryan to Join Picket Lines at Both Durham College Campuses

WHITBY, ONTARIO and OSHAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Sept. 1, 2011) - OFL President Sid Ryan will join picket lines today at both the Whitby and Oshawa campuses of Durham College to show support for the province's 8,000 college support workers. Picket lines will be going up across the province this morning after negotiations with Ontario's 24 community colleges failed to reach a fair settlement to protect good jobs for current and future employees.

"At stake in this strike is the future of work for the next generation. Eroding the wages, and benefits of future employees will mean that today's students will graduate from Ontario colleges with mortgage-sized debts into part-time, precarious and temporary employment," said OFL President Sid Ryan. "OPSEU is taking a courageous stand to protect the future of work in Ontario."

OFL President Sid Ryan will speak at the picket lines at the two campuses of Durham College and will be on hand for media interviews:

College support workers, represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees' Union (OPSEU), have been forced into a strike position by proposed concessions that would entrench a two-tiered workforce, threatening the job security of current employees and cutting the wages and benefits of future employees. The union has been in talks with the employer since early June but has been unable to secure a fair settlement that would protect good jobs for current and future employees.

The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) represents 54 unions and one million workers in Ontario. OFL President Sid Ryan is the voice of Ontario's labour movement.

Visit www.opseucaatsupport.org/ for more information on the strike.