Teachers’ unions boost pension plan picket
line
The president of the Ontario Secondary
School Teachers’ Federation is not happy with the man who runs her
pension plan.
OSSTF president Rhonda Kimberley-Young joined elementary
and Catholic teachers today on the picket line of OPSEU Local 598
(Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan).
“When Claude Lamoureux and
senior managers exceed benchmarks, they get large financial rewards,”
Kimberley-Young shouted. “When Pension Plan staff exceed our service
expectations they sure don't deserve to be put out on strike and have
scabs doing their work.
“The
administration of the pension plan works for the teachers and the
government of this province,” she said. “We want you shown the respect
you deserve.”
Sam Hammond, vice-president of the Elementary Teachers
Federation of Ontario, pulled no punches in his remarks.
“Our pension plan needs you. Our teachers need you. Our
pension plan runs because of you,” Hammond said, to roars of approval.
“It's time the pension plan got back to the bargaining table. The
65,000 members of the Elementary Teachers Federation are behind you
100 per cent. Quite frankly, it's disgusting the pension funds of our
teachers are being used for scabs.”
Teachers and
other supporters doubled the size of the picket line, where 255 staff
have been on strike since April 22. Morale was high as speaker after
speaker praised the strikers for taking a stand against concessions.
“Brothers and sisters, there is a train rolling under our
feet, and it’s not just the Yonge subway,” OPSEU Region 5
Vice-President Nancy Pridham told cheering strikers and supporters.
“It’s the train called the Local 598 strike that is going to bring you
the respect you deserve.
“The Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan made $14.1 billion
dollars last year,” Pridham said. “The OPSEU members who work at the
Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan play a fundamental role in the success
of the Plan. This is what your strike is all about.”
The following unions and locals showed their support at
today’s rally:
-
Ontario Secondary School
Teachers' Federation - provincial office and District 12 (Toronto)
-
Ontario English Catholic
Teachers Association - provincial office and Waterloo District
-
Elementary Teachers'
Federation of Ontario
-
Ontario Federation of
Labour
-
Toronto and York Region
Labour Council
-
Communications, Energy
and Paperworkers Union Local 1996
-
Ontario Public Service
Staff Union
-
OPSEU Locals 500, 504,
512, 516, 520, 528, 536, 542, 552, 555 and 599.
Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Index
