Government workers protest to demand a fair contract

ORILLIA, July 16, 2015 /CNW/ - Workers in the Ontario Public Service (OPS), represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, will hold an information picket over the government's refusal to bargain a fair collective agreement.

Date: July 17, 2015
Time: 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Location: Mara Provincial Park, 181 Courtland Street           

"We are holding information pickets so that the citizens of Ontario know exactly what is happening," said OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas. "The Wynne government is cutting public sector jobs and giving the work to private contractors.  Privatizing court transcription services is just one of hundreds of examples. Repeatedly, the result is poorer service at higher cost.

"The government is ignoring the lessons of eHealth, Highway 407 and Ornge.  Voters want a competent, effective and affordable public sector, but Wynne is deliberately taking that away. And much of this is being done by stealth.

"Wynne's mantra is wage freezes, cutbacks and concessions. It appears that government negotiators at the bargaining table would rather force a civil service strike than negotiate a fair deal."

OPSEU central Ontario Vice-President Sara Labelle said that "the taxpayers' watchdog, the Auditor General, has repeatedly shown that civil servants can deliver quality service at lower cost.

"For example, private IT contractors cost two to three times more when providing similar services as OPSEU OPS IT members.  These private IT contracts are worth several hundred million dollars annually. The government could save millions by not outsourcing IT work and using their internal IT staff. They are qualified, provide a more reliable service, and are far cheaper than the private sector alternative."

OPSEU represents all frontline Ministry employees who work directly for the Ontario government. The current collective agreement expired Dec. 31, 2014.

SOURCE Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU)

Chris Johnston, President OPSEU Local 308: [phone]