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“This isn’t about wage freezes or concessions. This is about the future of our province, and protecting accountable, reliable and cost-effective services.” - Warren (Smokey) Thomas, OPSEU President.
Toronto (13 Nov. 2012) - Bargaining teams representing 36,000 direct employees of the Ontario government will meet with government representatives for the first time today, November 13 to begin talks for a new collective agreement.
Warren (Smokey) Thomas, Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE) President said this contract is about protecting quality public services for all Ontarians.
“Public jobs make public services work,” said Thomas. “The people of Ontario have learned an expensive lesson with eHealth, Ornge and private ServiceOntario kiosks. Privatizing public services is a failed experiment that results in less accountability and public dollars going into the pockets of private business as profits.”
Forty-five different events will be held across the province on November 13 for OPSEU/NUPGE members to support their bargaining teams and send a message that services must be protected.
“Our collective agreement is a barrier to the government from completely dismantling the services Ontarians rely on,” said Thomas. “This isn’t about wage freezes or concessions. This is about the future of our province, and protecting accountable, reliable and cost-effective services.”
OPSEU/NUPGE represents all Ministry employees who work directly for the Ontario government. The current collective agreement expires December 31, 2012.
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE