News Releases    

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 1, 2002

Ontario labour bolsters OPSEU picket lines on “Day of Solidarity”

TORONTO - Trade unionists across Ontario will lend their support to striking Ontario Public Service employees on picket lines across the province on TUESDAY, APRIL 2.

A “Day of Solidarity” sponsored by the Ontario Federation of Labour will see picket lines bolstered in at least 22 Ontario cities.

Leah Casselman, president of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, welcomed the support.

“Our sisters and brothers from other unions have already been a source of incredible strength on picket lines everywhere,” she said. “The food, the coffee, the firewood, and the solidarity have made a world of difference to our members. The Day of Solidarity is just the icing on the cake. We’re looking forward to a real celebration of our fight to rebuild public services in this province.”

Locations and best times to catch up with solidarity pickets are as follows:

1. Barrie: Ministry of Health Dispatch Ambulance, 273 Tiffin Street (at Hwy. 400), 12:00 p.m.
2. Cobourg/Northumberland: Brookside Youth Centre, 390 King St. E., Cobourg, 4:00 p.m.
3. Dryden: Government Building, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
4. Elliot Lake: Government Building, 50 Hillside Drive North, 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
5. Guelph: Government Building, 1 Stone Road, 12:00 p.m.
6. Hamilton: Gore Park (march to 119 King St. W.), 10:00 a.m.
7. Kenora: Court House, 12:00 p.m.
8. Kingston: McDonald-Cartier Building, 49 Place d’Armes, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
9. London (NOTE DIFFERENT DATE): 217 York Street, Thursday, April 4, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
10. North Bay: North Bay Jail, 2550 Trout Lake Road, 6:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.; Rally at City Hall, 12:00 p.m.
11. Orillia: Huronia Regional Centre, 700 Memorial Ave., 12:00 p.m.
12. Oshawa: Michael Starr Building, 33 King St. W., 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
13. Peterborough: Ministry of Natural Resources, 300 Water St., 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.
14. Renfrew: Raglan Street, 9:00 a.m.
15. Sarnia: 700 Christina Street, 8:00 a.m.
16. Sault Ste. Marie: Roberta Bondar Building, 70 Foster Drive, 12:00 p.m.
17. Sudbury: Government Building, 199 Larch Street, starting at 8:30 a.m.
18. Thunder Bay: Provincial Lab, 336 South Syndicate Ave., 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
19. Timmins: March from Ministry of Health to Attorney General Office, beginning at 7:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.; Solidarity March beginning at Ministry of Health, 3:30 p.m.
20. Toronto: 900 Bay Street (at Wellesley), 11:00 a.m.
21. Walkerton/Grey-Bruce: Walkerton Jail, 209 Cayley St., 12:00 p.m.
22. Windsor: Windsor Jail, 378 Brock St., 4:00 p.m.

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For more information:

Laurie Hardwick, Ontario Federation of Labour: (416) 443-7657