Government workers will protest at Premier's event

TORONTO, Jan. 9, 2015 /CNW/ - When constituents show up for Premier Kathleen Wynne's New Year's Levee this weekend, they'll be greeted by workers in the Ontario Public Service, represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union. 

Date:	Sunday, January 11, 2015
Time:	1:30 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Location:	Noor Cultural Centre, 123 Wynford Dr., Toronto

"Premier Kathleen Wynne is taking billions of dollars out of public services and pouring them into fat contracts for well-connected companies," said OPSEU Regional Vice-President Myles Magner.

"OPSEU members work hard to deliver quality public services at a time of layoffs, funding cuts and pay cuts. We've proven time and again that we do the work better, cheaper, fairer than the private contractors the Liberals keep rewarding. Public dollars are for public services."

The Auditor General said last month the Liberals paid $8 billion too much for privatized construction projects alone. Even a fraction of that would mean more reliable and more accountable public services for everyone in Ontario.

Outside the event site, OPSEU members will distribute leaflets that pose the question: "Who's she really working for?" 

OPSEU represents all frontline Ministry employees who work directly for the Ontario government. Their collective agreement expired Dec. 31, 2014. In bargaining, the government's opening contract offer is a plan to further privatize, outsource, and dismantle the entire Ontario Public Service, OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas said.

SOURCE Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU)

Myles Magner, Regional Vice-President, OPSEU, 416.427.2606