/R E P E A T -- Urban Workers Project gets backing from OPSEU/

TORONTO, June 28, 2016 /CNW/ - The Ontario Public Service Employees Union is stepping up its fight against precarious work with a donation to the Urban Workers Project. OPSEU First Vice-President/Treasurer Eduardo (Eddy) Almeida will meet Wednesday with Project co-founder Andrew Cash to present a $30,000 cheque from the union.

Date:	Wednesday, June 29, 2016
Time:	10:00 a.m.
Place:	George Brown College, St James Campus, 200 King St. E., main entrance

"We're seeing a rise in part-time, contract work," said Almeida, "where workers can, and often do, fall in and out of employment as they go from contract to contract. This precariousness is spreading across the public sector at an alarming rate. We see it in the colleges and at the LCBO; we see it in developmental services and in many other sectors.

"Our union is taking steps to fight the precarious work trend," he said. "We are organizing precarious workers, as we are doing in the community colleges right now, and we are working with allies in other unions and the community to improve labour laws and employment standards. The Urban Workers Project is a very important ally in this struggle."

The Urban Workers Project is part of a grassroots fight against precariousness. Spearheaded by Andrew Cash and co-founder Stephanie Nakitsas, the Project aims to give voice to the growing number of independent workers across Canada. It seeks to advocate for representation of contract workers in employment standards legislation, access to healthcare and benefits, better pay and leave, as well as to raise awareness among Canadians about the precarity among independent workers who work contract, freelance or are self-employed.

"We have to fight against these constant attacks on working people," OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas said. "Stable, full-time jobs with good pensions and benefits – what should be basic entitlements for workers – are disintegrating. We must stand behind efforts to bring security to precarious workers.

"All 130,000 OPSEU members stand with these workers," he said. "We are proud to support the Urban Workers Project."

SOURCE Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU)

Eduardo (Eddy) Almeida, 1-855-390-2135