FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 30, 2001
Public Service Act
changes ‘create a crisis’
TORONTO – The Ontario government is
taking one of the best public services in the world and "creating a
crisis," said Ontario Public Service Employees Union President Leah
Casselman.
"They have destabilized education and
health care with their massive changes, and now they want to take the same
sledgehammer to the entire public service," she said.
The changes tabled in the legislature
Monday – with no consultation with those directly affected – open the
door to massive privatization, to conflicting chains of command, and to
delegation of administrative authority outside the public service. They
create new categories of temporary staff.
"The total effect is to undermine the
essence of responsible government: The people who work for the public are
accountable through a direct chain of command to the people the public
elects.
"The bill sets the groundwork to palm
off accountability to the private sector – not just to do government
work, but to set the rules and requirements for the work to be done. With
the loss of accountability, the government loses control over public
safety," Casselman said. "Somebody who only wants to make a
profit will be motivated to funnel as many dollars as possible to the
shareholders. They won’t do that by improving services, enhancing public
safety or hiring more expert staff."
"We already have accountable public
services, free of corruption, providing excellent programs to our
citizens. Why does the government want to destroy it?"
The bill also offers "a sweet
deal" to the Ontario Provincial Police Association. "As a reward
for political service, the OPPA gets a fast track opening to grab more
than 2,000 OPSEU members who are civilian employees of the OPP. It’s the
OPPA’s reward for supporting Tom Long for the Alliance leadership. The
OPPA has absolutely no experience in representing non-police,"
Casselman said. "We will fight this move so our members will continue
to be represented by a union that knows how to work for them
effectively."
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For further information:
Katie FitzRandolph (OPSEU
Communications) (416) 448-7440; cell (416) 561-5651; e-mail:
kfitzrandolph@opseu.org
Leah Casselman (OPSEU President) (416) 443-8888 Ext. 300
