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“I want to thank these workers for taking a stand against the negative impacts of precarious work, which is a sad fact of life for far too many workers today.” — Warren (Smokey) Thomas, OPSEU President
Toronto (27 June 2017) — A looming strike has been averted as the union negotiating team has reached a tentative agreement with LCBO management, says the President of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE).
Warren (Smokey) Thomas said that the details of the agreement will not be disclosed until they have been shared with workers, but that the deal “comes as the result of the tireless efforts of these members, both at the bargaining table and across the province.”
OPSEU President thanks workers, the public for support
“I want to thank these workers for taking a stand against the negative impacts of precarious work, which is a sad fact of life for far too many workers today,” said Thomas. “Across Ontario, far too many people are stuck in low-wage, part-time, contract positions. We saw over the course of these negotiations that challenging that precarity was an issue that resonated for many in the public."
“In particular, I want to thank all the members of the public who, over the past few months, shared words and messages of support with these workers, whether in their workplaces, at information pickets, or online," Thomas said.
The union’s bargaining team chair, Denise Davis, said that the bargaining team is unanimously recommending the deal to their members, with details to be provided to members in the next few days, ahead of a ratification date which has not yet been set.
“From mobilizing for a strong strike vote to organizing more than 100 information pickets in communities across Ontario, the support of the members is what got us to this point,” said Davis. “The deal we are looking at is only possible because of the tireless work of union members across the province who built public support for our plan for a better LCBO.”