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Ontario can do much better than just recover: OPSEU/SEFPO

“Give workers a real voice in post-pandemic planning, and we’re confident that Ontario won’t just recover from COVID-19, it will be revitalized and rejuvenated.” — Warren (Smokey) Thomas, OPSEU/SEFPO President

Ottawa (04 August 2021) — In a submission to government, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/SEFPO/NUPGE) is urging the province’s leaders to be bold, visionary, and confident as they plan for life after the pandemic.

Members serving on the front lines

“From the very start of the pandemic, the majority of OPSEU/SEFPO’s 180,000 members have courageously served on the front lines in communities across the province,” writes OPSEU/SEFPO President Warren (Smokey) Thomas. “They have risked and sacrificed so much; they’ve risen to every challenge thrown in their path, and don’t want Ontario and its workforce to go back to where it was in March of 2020."

“It now seems ages ago, but our members haven’t forgotten that before the pandemic struck, crises were already raging across our economy and our communities. Too few workers, an alarming growth in contract and other forms of precarious work. And too little investment in public services.”

Roadmap to build back better

In the submission — which is called Towards Tomorrow Together — OPSEU/SEFPO says the province can build back better if it follows 5 principles:

  1. Invest to expand capacity in hospitals and long-term care.
  2. Invite workers to the table.
  3. Respect workers.
  4. Protect public services and resources.
  5. Expand public services.

Workers must have a voice

OPSEU/SEFPO’s submission is a response to an open call for ideas from the government’s recently struck Workplace Recovery Advisory Committee. Along with arguing that recovery isn’t enough, the OPSEU/SEFPO submission also says more front-line workers — and their unions — need to be consulted.

“Give workers a real voice in post-pandemic planning, and we’re confident that Ontario won’t just recover from COVID-19, it will be revitalized and rejuvenated,” wrote Thomas. “Let’s move towards tomorrow together.”

The full text of the submission is available on OPSEU's website or in PDF version.