Resources for OPSEU members

Working people didn’t cause the Great Recession of 2008-09, but we’ve been paying for it from the start. First the high-rolling financiers whose risky bets torpedoed the private sector had to be bailed out by governments. Now those same financiers are demanding deep cuts to public services, jobs, and wages to pay for the bailouts – and protect the profits of private bondholders.

They might not get away with it. Around the world, working people are saying NO to this “austerity” agenda. We’re refusing to pay for a crisis they didn’t cause.

Here at home, fighting austerity starts with understanding it –and knowing how to talk about it with your friends, family, neighbours and co-workers. The materials listed here are designed to help OPSEU members do exactly that.

To order bulk (more than 20) quantities of any of the written documents, or to arrange for a presentation in your local, please e-mail us by clicking here.

June 21, 2012 OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas addressed issues concerning the new Ontario Budget on CTV News shortly after it was passed  more...

June 20, 2012 The Ontario Budget Bill 55 cleared the Legislature today, but not without changes forced by NDP Leader Andrea Horwath and the caucus. more...

June 19, 2012 News on developments at Queen’s Park here. .more...

Austerity in Ontario

May 18, 2012 This brief PowerPoint presentation provides basic facts about Dalton McGuinty’s “austerity” campaign to cut public services, jobs and wages. Complete with speaker’s notes, anyone can deliver it to local meetings, bargaining team caucuses, area councils, or any other group more…

Budget 2012 and the Public Sector’s Contribution to Ontario’s Economy

April 18, 2012 OPSEU commissioned this report from the Centre for Spatial Economics to quantify the economic damage to Ontario from the 2012 budget. The report also compares the economic impacts of public service cuts vs. tax increases. more...

Ontario Budget 2012 analysis

March 30, 2012 Executive Summary more...

The Shock Doctrine Comes to Ontario

March 28, 2012 OPSEU’s analysis of the 2012 Ontario Budget more...

Out of Step With Ontario

February 16, 2012 OPSEU’s analysis of the report of the Commission on the Reform of Ontario's Public Services (the Drummond Commission) more...

Challenging Austerity

Summer 2011 Questions and answers for supporters of good jobs, quality public services, and healthy unions in Ontario  more...