Media Advisory: Sid Ryan to Join Striking Workers at Mohawk College

HAMILTON, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Sept. 15, 2011) - OFL President Sid Ryan will join picket lines Friday at the Fennell Campus of Mohawk College to show support for college support workers who have been on strike for over two weeks.

"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 members aren't just fighting for themselves, they are protecting good jobs for our children."

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 OFL will be coordinating simultaneous solidarity rallies at every community college campus on Tuesday, September 20 to show worker and community support for OPSEU members and to call on the employer to come back to the table with a decent offer.

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.