OPSEU President to workers at MPAC: "130,000 OPSEU members stand with you"

TORONTO, June 15, 2016 /CNW/ - With the clock ticking down to a Friday strike deadline, OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas joined a rally of members at the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation today to send a clear message that OPSEU stands behind their call for a fair contract that recognizes the real value they deliver.

"With this rally we're sending a message to this employer that our 1,400 members at MPAC have the full support of all 130,000 OPSEU members across Ontario," said Thomas. "When you bargain with some of us, you bargain with all of us."

Frontline staff and Region 5 Executive Board Members from OPSEU were also joined at the rally by Chris Buckley, President of the Ontario Federation of Labour; Andria Babbington, Vice-President of the Toronto and York Region Labour Council; and MPP Cheri Dinovo (Parkdale – High Park). All three echoed the call for fair treatment for these hard-working staff.

"The work of our members at MPAC delivers real value for municipalities and municipal ratepayers," said Thomas. "At a time when top MPAC managers have seen raises of up to 24 per cent over two years, there is no reason for frontline staff to accept a collective agreement that is out of sync with the deals signed by other municipal employers."

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. Workers have been without a contract since December 2015, as the employer continues to push for radical cuts to benefits for retired workers.

Bargaining continues on 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)

Image with caption: "President Warren (Smokey) Thomas addresses OPSEU members during rally at MPAC office. (CNW Group/Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU))". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160615_C2190_PHOTO_EN_714869.jpg

Image with caption: "OPSEU members rally for a fair contract outside MPAC office. (CNW Group/Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU))". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160615_C2190_PHOTO_EN_714868.jpg

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