OPSSU calls for end to OPSEU reprisals against staff

TORONTO, Sept. 12, 2016 /CNW/ - The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) has fired four staff and issued suspensions without pay for four other staff within the past nine working days. This follows ratification of a new collective agreement on Sunday, August 28, 2016.

The Ontario Public Service Staff Union (OPSSU) received notice on September 6 that OPSEU also filed an employer policy grievance against OPSSU naming 22 staff. 

OPSSU President, Pati Habermann, maintains that many or all of these recent firings and suspensions are related to the recent heated round of bargaining between OPSSU and OPSEU. 

Habermann is calling for OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas to cease all reprisals, and instead move forward towards labour peace: "I am reaching out to the OPSEU President and Executive Board to find a resolution, and work towards a safe and healthy workplace where there is mutual trust."

"Many of my members are terrified to come to work in the morning," said Habermann. "The number of co-workers who are suspended or fired keeps rising. This has to stop."

"I believe strongly that unions are central to preserving and enforcing workers' rights in the workplace. I call on Smokey to demonstrate OPSEU's commitment to union values. It's time for OPSEU's President to show his leadership and help restore peace in OPSEU workplaces," said Habermann.

OPSSU represents permanent, part-time, contract/temporary and on-call workers at OPSEU's head office in Toronto and at 20 regional OPSEU offices across Ontario. Staff provide a wide range of services to more than 130,000 OPSEU members.

SOURCE Ontario Public Service Staff Union (OPSSU)

Pati Habermann, OPSSU President: [email protected], 289-821-0961 (cell); Emily Visser, OPSSU 1st Vice-President: [email protected], 416-854-8598 (cell); www.opssu.ca