*
SPOKE, September
By Tracy Ford
means
tracted firm
Three employees of the college’s shop have responded to the
school’s request for proposals to contract out the department
own
The employees Kathy
by sub-
proposals. -
Lynn Knowles,
McManus and Ed
Riehl
prepared the proposal and sent
it
-
to
college employees on Aug. 4.
“We
just
want to get out the Knowles.
The
shop.
to
out
the
in
The
college wants
contract out the shop for
move it
10
will mini-
says
is
need-
ed for equipment. In an agreement with the college and the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, which represents print shop workers, employees can apply for a one-year leave of absence from the college to work for the contracted employer. If they wish to stay with the private
just believe
much
less time,
it
according to the
costs include increased
use of college photocopiers due to the lack of a true rush service at the print shop.
“We encourage walk-in service,” “We are just here to
said Knowles.
help everybody.” If the college
Knowles
certainly
against
“We
contracting
out public services, period.
“There has been overwhelming letter campaign,” said Wallace. “The faculty has supported us on that and they are very concerned about this.” Wallace said other colleges which have contracted out services, such as the bookstore, cafeterias and print shop, are rated low in the response to the
KPI
surveys,
which evalu-
ate Ontario colleges.
She
said
Conestoga
is
number
1
current
overall in the surveys because of
employees won’t work for the concompany. She said they have already told management about their plans and they will
the level of service the college gets
ny,
the
said,
tracted
exercise their rights as the union.
Being an employee of the con-
to an
Ann
of the Ontario Public
staff local
agreement with an outside compa-
do not want to remain with the company, they can exercise their bumping and layoff rights at the college.
come
said
Wallace, president of the support
annual
does
firm, they can. If they
a
is
shop employees’ proposal.
The hidden
“At the union we are certainly
costs.
plans to privatize the print
it
letter
to reconsider the
contract
college announced July 19
mize the investment
'
ing price increases, loss of service
committee
are
years, hoping the
*
move
George Brown College requires 48 hours to do a rush job, something that can be done at Conestoga
to
(Photo by Julie Porter) ——
tions
ding for operation of the depart-
organizations.
lift
The
Service Employees Union.
shop if a suitable proposal is received from large print shop
a pump
shop services have been conbeen print-
“We
to the union.
it
asks the college’s academic opera-
said Knowles.
that
fixing
returning
with the outside companies bid-
The
a pump repair crew who are outside Door 5 on Aug. 17.
other colleges where
and asking them to show their supby signing the letter and
port
tracted out, results have
and hidden
and support staff opposing the plan
posal to the college to compete
to present their pro-
ment.
for
at
at the college
anti-privatization,”
They plan
Rick Polkiewicz, a construction worker, operates the
proposal
staff’s
said replacing the equipment needed in the shop can be phased in over a few years. The proposal
the
letters to faculty
shop
says that
to
request for proposals by sending
good department, we work well and there is no reason to change it,”
facts,” said
system
shop
employees.
The union responded
would
the union
no longer represent the
mitting their
— Page 3
2000
shop submits proposal
Pumped up
11,
members of
“The faculty has supported us overwhelmingly,” Knowles said. “We don’t plan to go to work for another company.”
from departments like the print shop and the reason why Conestoga is high on the list is because of the exemplary service the print shop gives. “The print shop is a benchmark service,” she said. they (the college) want to compromise that?”
for
quality
“Why would
i
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