News Releases    

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 9, 2002

Casselman in Owen Sound to protest Savings Office gag order

TORONTO - Staff at the Province of Ontario Savings Office (POSO) are holding a “gag day” on the picket lines tomorrow to protest the employer’s order that they can’t speak out against privatization even as union members on their own time.

OPSEU President Leah Casselman said POSO staff and customers are extremely concerned about the prospects of privatization. “Typically, privatization carries huge costs, as outlined in the Provincial Auditor’s recent report, and as OPSEU members we’d like to tell customers about those costs, which could include account fees and lower interest rates,” she said. “It could also include the cost to the public of our Minister of Finance going to New York to borrow money instead of using POSO deposits.” Casselman will visit the picket line in Owen Sound:

Date: Wed. April 10, 2002
Time: 2:30 pm
Place: POSO, 825 Second Avenue East, Owen Sound

OPSEU members say POSO staff has been told they cannot circulate flyers or petitions calling into question the government’s privatization plan. Also, they have been told to keep quiet about a business plan prepared by customer Donald Broome of Cobden to expand services offered by the POSO. An e-mail intercepted by OPSEU, from the Director of POSO tells employees they “are not to be seen as supporting or assisting in conveying messages contrary to government policy.”

Broome is disappointed the government has not acknowledged his plan. “It comes as no surprise to me that this government would try to silence this proposal, given their abysmal record of not listening to their own citizens, POSO customers or staff,” he said.

“As union members, we have a right to speak out. This government demands silence from its staff, but this same government once leaked confidential POSO customer information to a pollster,” said Casselman. “We need to keep the POSO public, and use the deposits as intended, to reinvest in the public services this government has dismantled.”

OPSEU members will distribute information and ask customers and other citizens to sign a petition to keep the POSO publicly owned. POSO staff will wear tape over their mouths in protest.

-30-