FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 15, 2002
Casselman calls on Eves to give his negotiators a mandate to settle the public service strike
TORONTO - The president of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union is calling on new Premier Ernie Eves to act immediately and give his bargaining teams a mandate to settle the Ontario Public Service strike.
“Mr. Eves campaigned as a politician who listens and acts,” said Casselman. “That is exactly what we want him to do. If he is willing to listen to what his employees have to say, we can settle this strike very quickly.”
Casselman said the biggest issue facing Eves on his first day on the job is the fact that the majority of his employees are not on the job and that the regular business of government is not getting done. David Tsubouchi, Chair of Management Board during the strike, may not have been getting correct information from top
bureaucrats in charge of negotiations on management’s side, she said.
“There is some baggage on their side of the table that needs to be dumped,” said Casselman.
“Our bargaining teams believe a deal is within reach, but it takes two to tango,” she said.
Thousands of strikers will be at Queen’s Park today to show their support for the OPSEU bargaining teams.
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For more information:
Randy Robinson (416) 788-9134
Katie FitzRandolph (416) 448-7440
David Cox (416) 788-9197
