Media Advisory - Rally at Minister Sousa's office to protest Bill 115

TORONTO, Nov. 1, 2012 /CNW/ - Education workers will hold a rally outside the constituency office of Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Charles Sousa, on Friday, November 2, 2012. Protesting the undemocratic Bill 115, OPSEU members are calling for its repeal.

In spite of Bill 115, education workers are determined to bargain as usual with the Peel District School Board and the Dufferin Peel Catholic District School board.

WHAT:	Rally
DATE:	Friday, November 2, 2012
TIME:	4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
WHERE:	Constituency office of Charles DeSousa   120 Lakeshore Road West, Suite 1 & 2   Mississauga, Ontario L5H 1E8

"Collective bargaining is essential to democracy," said OPSEU President, Warren (Smokey) Thomas. "OPSEU has filed a legal challenge to protect our Charter rights, and stands in solidarity with all education workers."

Adult non-credit English as a Second Language and Basic Skills Teachers are "poor cousins" in the education system.

"We are hourly paid teachers," said Robyn Lambe, OPSEU Local 283 President. "We object to this legislation that takes away our right to strike and to collective bargaining protected under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms."

"Minister Sousa voted in favour of Bill 115. As the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, perhaps he should make an effort to properly fund educational services for immigrants to Ontario," said Lambe.

The Ontario Public Service Employees Union filed a legal challenge to Bill 115 on Thursday, October 11, 2012. OSSTF, ETFO and CUPE have filed similar challenges in an effort to protect the Charter right to bargain.

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

SOURCE: OPSEU

Robyn Lambe, OPSEU Local 283 President: 416-540-4538
Greg McVeigh, OPSEU negotiator: 1-800-268-7376 x5200