Media Advisory - OPSEU joins OSSTF, ETFO, CUPE at Ottawa rally to protest unconstitutional Liberal legislation

OTTAWA, Sept. 27, 2012 /CNW/ - OPSEU President, Warren (Smokey) Thomas will join a rally with OSSTF, ETFO, CUPE, Allies and the Ottawa District Labour Council on Friday, September 28.  Together they will send Dalton McGuinty a clear message outside the Ontario Liberal Annual General Meeting that collective bargaining is essential to democracy.

WHAT: Ontario Liberal Party Annual General Meeting
WHEN: September 28, 2012
TIME: Leafletting: 4:30 p.m., Rally: 6:00 p.m. March: 6:00 p.m. from Confederation Park to the Convention Centre
WHERE: Ottawa Convention Centre, 55 Colonel By Drive

The McGuinty Government has legislated teachers and support staff contracts across Ontario with Bill 115. This move has taken away the right of Ontario's education workers to collective bargaining as established in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This is in turn a threat to all collective bargaining in the public and private sector.

"The Ontario Liberals' legislation is unconstitutional," said OPSEU President, Warren (Smokey) Thomas. "Their Bill 115 is just like the new legislation they are proposing. It clearly denies our Charter rights."

Legislation affecting Ontario's education workers is compounded by cuts to the Ontario Public Service, attempts to take control of pension plans, and chronic underfunding of social services including healthcare, education and social services.

"I want to know who McGuinty thinks his supporters are. Education workers won't vote for him. Public sector workers aren't going to vote for him. He seems to want an early retirement."

OPSEU represents more than 130,000 workers, including 2000 members at Ontario's Boards of Education.

SOURCE: OPSEU

David Lundy, OPSEU Regional Vice-President: 613-213-1953
Emily Visser, OPSEU Communications: 416-557-7936