Facts are stubborn things, but statistics are more pliable. (Mark Twain)

So how many times did you read in the press that we were just lazy and greedy, and that the colleges had offered a "generous" salary offer? Hmmm .... I read it constantly. So ... let me quote you what our college stated on our website (I think I already mentioned I saved this stuff, even though our college quickly took it down after the strike was over). Here's the quote ..."The colleges have provided a good offer to OPSEU ... A 12.6-per-cent increase in salary over four years".

Well anyone who teaches statistics knows that you can twist statistics in a variety of ways. Here's the way the offer actually went, according to the OPSEU bargaining team:

End rate 2005 at top of salary scale $82,299

Effective Date: %Increase 12-month salary
Sept 1/05 to Mar 31/06 2.00% $83,945
Apr 1/06 to Aug 31/06 1.00% $84,784
Sept 1/06 to Mar 31/07 2.00% $86,480
Apr 1/07 to Aug 31/07 1.00% $87,345
Sept 1/07 to Mar 31/08 2.00% $89,092
Apr 1/08 to Aug 31/08 1.00% $89,983
Sept 1/08 to Mar 31/09 2.00% $91,782
Apr 1/09 to Aug 31/09 1.00% $92,700


Total additional salary over 4 years $23,568
Actual $$$ increase over 4 years 7.16%

NOTE -- 7.16% over 4 years. Now does that look like 12.6 percent to you? But what impression did that 12.6% give to the media and the students?

A friend of mine predicted this type of misleading use of statistics from day one of the strike. After all, they have done this to us before, so why would one be surprised that they are doing it again? So ... I would have a just-barely-over 7% increase in real $$$ over 4 years. Maybe it is (partly) about the money after all, especially given what the "sunshine club" (those in the colleges who make over $100 000) already get.

But of course we are back to work now and the strike issues will disappear from the press and this information will get no play in the media and what will stick in the public's mind is that misleading 12.6%.