October 20, 2004
Dear Sisters/Brothers,
Re: SYL APPS (LOCAL 213) STRIKE & REQUEST FOR DONATIONS
The 145 members of OPSEU Local 213 have been on strike since April 15th. Syl Apps is located in Oakville and it is an 80-bed government-funded secure custody, detention and treatment facility that houses psychiatrically disturbed adolescents and young offenders who have committed crimes that include armed robbery,
sexual assault and murder.
The major issues still on the table are slashed sick time and WSIB concessions. Although Syl Apps is reimbursed by the WSIB for wages it pays to employees from the time of injury to the time of approval, they have decided that employees should wait without pay until the WSIB approves their claim.
From the outset, Syl Apps has shown contempt for the bargaining process and a decent contract.
The employer’s last offer on Oct. 1 was rejected by 80 per cent mostly due to the employer’s proposed staggered return-to-work plan.
We need your help. The employer has now started to advertise in area newspapers for replacement workers, and it appears that Kinark has no interest in resolving this labour dispute. As well, we have been informed that even if the strike is settled, Kinark may only re-hire 20 per cent of our members without
consideration of seniority.
Once again, we are seeking your support through a donation to our Hardship Fund. Any donations and/or support on our picket lines would be greatly appreciated. If you have already made a donation, we thank you again for your generosity and look forward to seeing you.
Thanks for taking the time to consider our request, and for sharing this information with your members.
Please make your cheque payable to “Local 213 Hardship Fund” and forward it to:
Local 213 Hardship Committee
c/o OPSEU – Hamilton Regional Office
55 Frid Street, Suite 1
Hamilton, Ontario
L8P 4M3
In solidarity,
Leah Casselman
President
Ontario Public Service Employees Union
Syl Apps Index
