A serious issue underlined what was otherwise a carnival atmosphere outside the Northern College Timmins campus on Wednesday
It was a community rally put on by OPSEU Local 654, representing support workers at the college. They are among 10,000 people on strike for two weeks now.
Among other unionists participating was Maureen Harkin. She belongs to the local at the Canadian Mental Health Association and was representing OPSEU’s provincial women’s committee.
She blames the college situation on greedy employers.
“They just want more for their pockets,” she says. “They always claim there’s no money, there’s no money but you know, they’re top heavy. They don’t have any problems making ends meet, let’s put it that way.”
The majority of the striking workers are women. Harkin says it’s important to support her union sisters.
“I’m also part of the mental health and addictions committee with OPSEU as well. This absolutely affects everybody’s mental health when the employer won’t come to the table and won’t bargain for a fair deal.”
Harkin says she can sympathize with the college workers, having been locked out by CMHA in February, 2024.
