Thunder Bay NOSM strikers take fight for first contract to Liberal MPPs
September 2, 2010
Northern Development, Mines and Forestry Minister Michael Gravelle and 11 Liberal MPPs meeting in the city yesterday had time for a 90-minute tour of the area, but no time to talk to NOSM picketers on strike since August 16
OPSEU Local 677 members took their struggle for a first contract to the Best Western Norwester hotel Sept. 1 where Minister Gravelle, MPP for Thunder Bay-Superior North, was meeting with 11 of his fellow Liberal MPPs. Gravelle apparently changed the location of the meeting twice in an effort to avoid the picketers.
Sixty enthusiastic strikers picketed the two hotel entrances. They were joined by Region 7 Executive Board Members Jamie Tocker, Carl Thibodeau and Sandra Snider.
Gravelle and the MPPs had the time to embark on a 90-minute tour of Thunder Bay but no time to talk to the picketers. The Liberals went straight from the hotel to the bus. However, picketers
delayed the bus for 5 minutes in order to communicate their issues to those inside, including distributing flyers addressed to Gravelle and the MPPs.
Kudos to the members for their enthusiasm and the picket captains for their direction of the lines.
