Hundreds of MPAC workers join information pickets as deadline approaches

TORONTO, June 10, 2016 /CNW/ - With one week left before a June 17, 2016 strike deadline, OPSEU members at the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) held information pickets Thursday in cities across Ontario. Frontline staff spoke with members of the public to raise awareness of the real value they deliver to municipalities, and to build support for their call for a fair deal from their employer.

"Our members know the meaning of fair value," said David Lynch, chair of the OPSEU bargaining team. "Unfortunately, this employer expects us to be experts on fair market value when it comes to property valuation, but refuses to recognize fair market value when it comes to wages and working conditions in the municipal sector."

The 1400 OPSEU members at MPAC are trained professionals who make sure that every property in Ontario is valued correctly. Every four years, these workers carefully assess the value of more than five million properties across the province.

"These hard-working members are being asked to accept a deal that is completely out of sync with the standard set by other municipal contracts," added OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas. "MPAC seems to have no limit to the money available for their top Sunshine List managers, some of whom have seen raises of 14-24 per cent over the past two years. But when it comes time to bargain with the frontline workers that carry out these crucial assessments every day, they can't even seem to find the money for an offer in line with other municipal workers."

Bargaining dates have been set for June 15 and 16, in advance of a strike deadline of 12:01 a.m. on June 17.

SOURCE Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU)

Craig Ashbourne, A/Communications Officer, 226-821-1725