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Strike continues | as negotiations break off again by Julia Ashton It has been almost one month since teachers at the province's 22 community colleges walked off the job and it doesn't look like theyll be going back to work soon. Talks between OPSEU (On- tario Public Service Employees Union) and the r inaging Council of Regents | :oke off again on the weekend after sev- en days of bargaining. According to Bill Swan of the Durham College communica- tions committee, the talks broke down because mediator Terry Mancini said the two sides were getting nowhere. This action "throws the ball directly into the court of (educa- tion minister) Sean Conway," said Mr. Swan. "Mr. Conway will have to show some leadership," he con- tinued in a phone interview Monday morning with the Star. . "Not necessarily back to work legislation, which I think would be a mistake at this point, but something creative." On Wednesday, Nov. 9, about 60 Durham College teachers joined 1,200 of their colleagues at Queen's Park for a province- wide rally. Before travelling to the rally, Mr. Swan, a journalism teach- er, told the Port Perry Star that his students may be the only ones who are benefitting from the strike. His studénts have continued to publish their college newspa- per, The Chronicle, during the strike. Some students have also been freelancing for area and 'Toronto newspapers. ". "This is real-life reporting," Mr. Swan said. "I can't say that any other students are benefit- ting from the strike." And Mr. Swan said he can un- derstand the feelings the stu- dents are having in regards to the strike. "I think the students have every right to be severely ticked off," he said. "As they say on the TTC, there has to be a better way." Because the strike has lasted so long, school-year and sum- mer holidays will definitely be affected, Mr. Swan said. If the school year is extended, the colleges will have to pay overtime to the teachers, Mr. Swan said. The contract states that teachers must work six weeks after the school year ends to prepare for the next year's courses. ' "The colleges will have to pay overtime for the month of July so teachers can get ready for next year's courses," Mr. Swan said. Teachers walked off the job Oct. 18 for job security, reten- _tion of their sick leave plan, and 'higher wages. A new program being dis- cussed, called Vision 2000, is causing a lot of concern over job security, said communications - SCHOOL SUPPLIES Pencils - Lined Paper -Erasers - Note Books - Math Sets - etc. PORT PERRY STAR 235 Queen Street aa committee member Ginny Col- ling. The program would see cours- es dropped at some colleges and "beefed up at others." Unfortunately,t eachers with years of experience and senior- ity may not be transferred to colleges still offering the course. And if they are transfered, they will begin as probationary teachers. Ms. Colling said the Council of Regents is also trying to create "have" and "have-not" teachers through their sick leave plan. The current sick leave plan allows teachers to accummu- late unlimited sick leave, she said, but the Council of Regents wants to take that benefit away from teachers who are hired af- ter Aug. 31, 1989. The teachers are also looking for a 10 per cent wage increase that would be spread over three periods. Ms. Colling said that since the increases are spread out over the school year, it would amount to the teachers asking for a 6.8 per cent increase if paid in one shot. "We are the lowest paid teachers in the province," said Ms. Colling. "How can we at- tract people from industry to teach students when they face large pay cuts?" Ten years ago, a college teacher's pay landed between that of public high school teach- ers and university professors. College teachers have walked off the job on one other occasion. On Oct. 17, 1984, teachers were off the job for 17 days before be- ing legislated back to.work by the then provincial Progressive Conservative party. Thm, - - BE Ld ions 4 PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, November 14, 1989 -- 3 Book Return pe i - Service held at Library iad 4 pr A put A ly | To After the Remembrance Day parade and ceremony at the cenotaph, members of the Roy- al Canadian Leglon Branch 419 held a small service at the Scugog Memorial Public Library on Saturday. After the service, the members presented Marg Wilbur, library chairman, with a $1,000 cheque. Pictured are (from left) Bob Archer, Herb Lawrence, Norm Budd, Dave - Durham, Marg Wilbur, Bob Douglas and John Christie. The OPP has launched a month-long blitz on commercial vehicles in the Greater Toronto Area. About 300 officers working out of six OPP detachments in- cluding Whitby will be paying particular attention this month to heavy trucks and transports. A spokesman for the Whit- by detachment told the Star last week the officers will be check- ing "everything" from seat belts, brakes, tires, lights, over- loading and loads not properly "tarped, to following too close and using an improper lane. The blitz will continue through the month of Novem- ber, and the Whitby detach- ment has assigned one officer as "truck specialist" this month. In the first week, some 26 charges were laid by this "spe- cialist." Areas of concentration will be Highway 401, and routes which see heavy gravel truck traffic. A statement released by the OPP says the Ontario Trucking Association has given its blessing to the blitz and fully supports efforts by the Police to make the highways safer. OPP crackdown on heavy trucks The OPP will be working closely with MOT officials and Regional Police forces this month. "Commercial vehicles have not been involved in an abnomr- la number of collisions, and most truckers drive properly, but the size and weight of these vehicles, and the often dramatic consequence of accidents, makes this initiative appropri- ate," said the OPP statement. ° "All we are asking of (truck) owners and operators is that they check their equip- ment and drive safely." The === -- a ] "Botwmanbille's netwest all-occagion &ift Store" 129 Ring Street East Bowmanbille 623-8100 You are cordially invited to our "CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE" Sunday, November 19th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. 8% off our extensive gift selection Refreshments will be served while you shop or browse at your leisure. Personal Service -- Complimentary Gift Wrap FREE PARKING