OPSEU members in Niagara to take their message to the public: Save ServiceOntario

ST. CATHARINES, ON, Feb. 23, 2012 /CNW/ - Staff from two provincially-operated ServiceOntario offices will use their lunch hour Friday to distribute critical information to the public.

What:   When:    What time:   Where:

Information picket Friday, February 24 12 noon - 1 p.m. The Ontario government building, 301 St. Paul Street, St. Catharines

The union is concerned that privatization will severely reduce Ontarians access to front line services. As well, OPSEU believes privatization will jeopardize the security of Ontarians' personal information.

ServiceOntario provides valuable government ID including the enhanced driver's license, health card and Ontario photo card.  This ID allows Ontarians to cross the border, access health care and open a bank account. ServiceOntario expects to handle 48 million transactions in 2012.

Finance Minister Dwight Duncan announced on February 13 that the government will hand over ServiceOntario to a so-called "public-private partnership."

The information picket is organized by the OPSEU Niagara Area Council.

Sylvie Valcourt, Local 211, and Serge Valcourt, Local 270, OPSEU Niagara Area Council, [phone] (cell)