FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 7, 2001

Locked out correctional officers to rally in Toronto

TORONTO - Members of OPSEU Local 361 will hold a rally to encourage Community and Social Services Minister John Baird to force Kennedy Youth Services back to the bargaining table.

Date: Thursday, November 8, 2001
Time: 11:30 a.m.
Location: Ministry of Community and Social Services Hepburn Block, 80 Grosvenor

Unionized correctional staff of OPSEU Local 361 (Kennedy Youth Services, Uxbridge) were locked out by their employer on Saturday, June 23. The employer has refused to sit down with Local 361 and bargain in good faith, leaving members on the picket line for over 19 weeks.

The employer locked out members when contract talks came to an impasse. The employer is demanding concessions such as: elimination of top-up pay for pregnancy/parental leave; no seniority rights for laid-off workers; no wage increase for four years; the elimination of all current health and safety language; mandatory employee training without pay; no prior notice for changes to work schedules or shifts; overtime pay only after working in excess of 176 hours over four weeks; elimination of banked sick credits; reduction and elimination of workplace accommodation language for sick or injured workers; and refusal to give employees a pension plan.

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For more information:
Local 361 Lockout Headquarters (905) 649-0107
Don Ford, OPSEU Communications (416) 788-910