OPSEU - Stammers family and union
lay charges after picket line death
TORONTO – The family of Prof. John Stammers
and the Ontario Public Service Employees Union are proceeding with a private
prosecution following Stammers’ picket line death in March 2006.
Joshua Donnelly, 22, appeared in court Feb. 7
on charges of criminal negligence causing death, and leaving the scene of a
motor vehicle accident.
Prof. Stammers, 62, died March 25 from
injuries suffered in a picket line incident involving a vehicle March 20.
Police did not lay charges at the time. But in a preliminary hearing Sept.
22, Justice Kerr of the Ontario Court of Justice ruled there were grounds
for the case to proceed.
“Our family was disappointed the police did
not lay charges,” said
Joanne
Fulkerson, on behalf of the Stammers
family. “John was frail and had a disability. He did not cause his own
death, as media stories at the time alleged. He was the victim.”
OPSEU represents the 9,000 community college
faculty who were on strike when this event occurred. OPSEU President Leah
Casselman said workers on a picket line must be afforded full legal
protection.
“Our members on picket lines need the same
legal protections afforded to other members of society,” she said. “Tensions
may rise but picketers have a legal right to be there and communicate their
message to the public. There is no impunity: The law must protect picketers
as it protects any citizen.”
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For more information, please contact:
Roman Stoykewych, OPSEU General Counsel
416-443-8888
