To:
All UOIT students, faculty and staff
From:
Dr. Gary Polonsky, President
Date:
March 7, 2006
Subject:
Durham College faculty strike
______________________________________________________________________
Please be advised that Durham College faculty is engaged in a legal, province-wide
strike, as of 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, March 7, 2006. The purpose of this communication
is to provide you with an update of the procedures/processes for the continuation of
UOIT academic programs and services during the strike.
1. University remains open:
UOIT’s priority is to maintain its academic endeavors of teaching, learning and research.
Therefore, all UOIT classes, including Bridging program classes, continue to operate as
normal. However, we recognize that the strike will cause some disruption to our normal
activities.
The campus remains open to all students and most campus services continue to operate
as usual including Student Services, residence, the Early Learning Centre, the Campus
Athletic, Tennis and Ice Centres. Due to the strike, reduced food services are available
until further notice.
The Campus Library will remain open during its regular hours. Changes to operations
will be posted on the library’s doors and on the Campus Library website at www.uoit.ca
as they occur. However, librarians may not available to staff the Reference Desk or to
provide orientations and classes. As well, reduced services are being offered by our
reference technician and administrative staff. Students are encouraged to use the
various online help sheets and instructions and send their queries to library@dc-uoit.ca
or reference@dc-uoit.ca.
We ask that all individuals show mature judgment, responsibility, flexibility and good will
in attempting to minimize the effects of disruption to our academic endeavors.
2. Working during a strike:
All UOIT faculty and staff are expected to carry out all of their duties and responsibilities
at the normal times and places scheduled.
3. Right to strike:
It is important to remember that OPSEU members are legally entitled to strike, and to
establish pickets.
4. Picket lines:
In a labour dispute picketers are legally permitted to:




Carry signs stating the nature of the dispute
Speak to you about their concerns
Ask you to join the picket lines
Hand you leaflets
Picketers are supposed to keep moving and allow free passage in and out by nonstriking individuals (students, staff and faculty); however, it is most likely that you will
experience some delays so please be respectful and patient.
Please observe the following suggestions/guidelines for approaching a picket line:

Plan to arrive earlier than usual in order to avoid lineups.

Approach the line slowly. If you are operating a vehicle, plan your approach to
the university, if at all possible, so that you will be making a right turn on to the
campus. The latter will avoid you being caught in the middle of an intersection in
case of delays.

Whether driving, walking or biking on to campus you should be prepared to stop.
Be prepared to wait until you can safely pass through the picket line.

Be prepared for delays. Remember to operate your vehicle in a safe and lawful
fashion at all times.

Roll down your vehicle window or otherwise indicate your willingness to
communicate with the picketers.

Proceed normally and if you are stopped, explain politely that you are exercising
your legal right to come to work, attend classes or to conduct business on
campus and that you wish to proceed.

The picketers may provide you with information and wish to discuss the issues
with you. Explain your situation, stating words similar to the following: “I would
like to exercise my right to come to work or attend classes. Please let me cross
the picket line.”

Consider car pooling or alternate travel arrangements for the duration of the
strike.

If you are not allowed through the picket line, or if you are threatened, do not
attempt to force your way in. Display patience and remain calm.

If you believe you are being threatened, note a description (or name if possible),
as well as the circumstances surrounding such action.

Do not become involved in any arguments or any type of altercation.

If you encounter a problem, find a telephone and contact security at ext. 2400.
Alternately, students are asked to contact Gary Pitcher, director of Student
Rights and Responsibilities at ext. 2943. Faculty and staff are asked to contact
Human Resources at ext. 3203.

Please remember that the majority of the picketers are members of our
community who are engaged in a lawful dispute with the CCAC. When the
dispute is over, the employees will return to their respective positions and
therefore we should all exhibit flexibility based on good judgment.
5. Bus service:
Public transit to and from the university will continue; however, buses are not
crossing the picket lines and riders are being dropped off in alternate locations just
outside of the campus.
6. UOIT spokesperson:
Dr. Gary Polonsky, president of UOIT is the university’s designated spokesperson,
Brian Marshall, director, Human Resources, is the university’s secondary
spokesperson.
7. Other important information:

Official UOIT communications will be available to keep you informed of
developments as they emerge.

Please check official university communications regularly by visiting www.uoit.ca,
or call the strike information hotline at 905.721.3355 or 1.888.467.2376. Do not
assume that other sources of information are accurate until you check official
university communications.

All efforts will be made to keep the community informed in a timely fashion of
changes as they occur.

Further information including a detailed questions and answers document is
available on the UOIT website at www.uoit.ca.
Thank you for your time and consideration. We will keep you informed.