Holiday gifts come early for Ontario government managers

TORONTO, Dec. 20, 2012 /CNW/ - The Ontario government will pay out bonuses to top managers in the Ontario Public Service this week, the union has learned.

While these managers already earn well over $100,000 a year, they stand to receive thousands extra as a gift for the holidays.

"This is yet another example of the Liberal government's hypocrisy," said OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas. "They are demanding that working people pay for the government's expensive mistakes. Meanwhile the one percent gets richer. The injustice is clear."

Bargaining teams representing 36,000 direct government employees are currently in negotiations with the Ontario government for a new collective agreement. The government has tabled multiple concessions to sick leave, benefits and severance pay as well as a wage freeze. In addition they want no movement on the wage grid, and a lower starting wage for new hires, effectively denying fair wages to younger and less senior employees.

"Granting bonuses to managers during contract negotiations is a slap in the face for frontline workers. It demonstrates this government's utter disrespect for our public services and the public structures that we all depend on," said Thomas.

SOURCE: OPSEU

Emily Visser, OPSEU Communications: 416-557-7936