http://www.hamiltonmountainnews.com/news/article/192350

By Mark Newman, News Staff
News
Oct 23, 2009

While they won’t say how many people cast ballots, officials with the Ontario Public Service Employees Union say their bid to organize part-time support staff at Mohawk College has been well received.

“I think there’s a strong majority of support here,” said Tracey-Ann Prokipzuk, president of OPSEU Local 241, which represents about 360 full-time support staff at the Mohawk’s Fennell, Stoney Creek, Applied Health and Brantford campuses. The union says the part-timers, many of then students, often receive less in terms of wages, benefits and job security than their full-time colleagues.

Part-time support staff at Mohawk voted last week and the province-wide balloting continues to next Tuesday.

Up to 10,000 part-time support staff at Ontario’s 24 community colleges are eligible to vote, including some 350 at Mohawk.

The union needs a simple majority across the province for certification. A similar vote last winter by part-time instructors at community colleges to join OPSEU was challenged by the College Compensation and Appointments Council, which oversees the college system, and remains before the Ontario Labour Relations Board.