FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 11, 2001

Syl Apps workers vote to keep OPSEU

TORONTO – Employees at the Syl Apps Centre for young offenders in Oakville have voted to keep the Ontario Public Service Employees Union as their bargaining agent.

The Ontario government privatized the high-profile centre for troubled young offenders last year, turning the operation over to Kinark Child and Family Services on Dec. 1.

About 25 of more than 100 full-time staff, including OPSEU President Leah Casselman who is on leave from a job at Syl Apps, accepted job offers with the new employer. Kinark hired another 50 back after it took over.

Because Conservative labour law changes eliminated union successor rights for employees in the Ontario Public Service, the union had to re-organize under the new employer. When the votes were counted Wednesday, they chose OPSEU by a margin of 68 to 24.

"It’s a vote of confidence in the union," said Casselman. "Members know we have represented them well in the past and they trust us to continue effective representation with the new employer."

The next step is to set up a new local at Syl Apps and to start the process of negotiating a first contract with Kinark. That should happen within weeks.

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For further information:

Katie FitzRandolph (OPSEU Communications) (416) 448-7440; home (416) 967-5964; cell (416) 561-5651; e-mail: kfitzrandolph@opseu.org

Leah Casselman (OPSEU President) (416) 443-8888 Ext. 300