FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 19, 2002
OPSEU strikers “rally for an answer” in Orangeville to mark Eves’ visit
ORANGEVILLE - The largest rally in Orangeville history will take place Monday as hundreds of striking Ontario Public Service employees converge on the city. Their mission: to find out how to get the same deal Premier Ernie Eves has had as a public servant.
“Ernie Eves got an $810,000 pension payout and $78,000 in severance pay after 21 years on the job,” said Leah Casselman, president of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union. “He’ll get a three per cent pay raise in 2003 (bringing his salary to $152,836) and a 25 per cent pay raise if he’s still Premier after the next election,
which would bring him up to $191,000 a year, plus benefits.
“Our members are coming to Orangeville to ask Ernie, ‘What do we have to do to get the same sweet deal?’”
The schedule of events for
Monday, April 22
is as follows:
· 11:00 a.m.:
Buses arrive at Tony Rose Memorial Sports Centre, 40 Fead Street
· 11:30 a.m.:
Marchers leave Sports Centre and march to Eves’ campaign headquarters, 163 First Street, via Clara, Elizabeth, Louisa, Broadway and First Streets.
· 12:00 noon:
Barbecue and rally with special guest speakers
Bruce Davidson,
Concerned Walkerton Citizens;
Doug Wilcox,
NDP candidate, Dufferin-Peel-Wellington-Grey;
Josh Matlow,
Liberal Candidate, Dufferin-Peel-Wellington-Grey; and
Leah Casselman.
