FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 28, 2002
Deaths show government must accept accountability for ending strike: Casselman
TORONTO - Recent deaths show that the Ontario government must accept accountability for negotiating a quick end to the ongoing strike by 45,000 Ontario Public Service workers, says Leah Casselman, president of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union.
“The deaths of two construction workers in Toronto and an inmate at Millbrook Correctional Centre Friday should be a flashing red light to this government that it’s time to start negotiating seriously to end the public service strike,” said Casselman. “Those deaths might have been avoided if we hadn’t been forced out on
strike. It’s time the government backed off its vicious demands for concessions and made some positive moves.”
Casselman made the comments April 28, the International Day of Mourning for workers killed on the job.
“The Ministry of Labour’s modus operandi for dealing with workplace deaths is to say that they have nothing to do with the strike and that everything is just fine,” said Casselman. “We don’t buy it.”
Casselman pointed to problems related to several recent workplace deaths:
· The government sent managers from the Ministry of Transportation and the Pay Equity Division of the Ministry of Labour to investigate the death of Duane Yonge, who died April 22 when he was crushed in a press at the Dana Victor plant in St. Thomas.
· Steelworkers in northern Ontario have complained that investigation of the death of Roch Lamirande, who died April 4 at Placer Dome Canada’s Musselwhite Mine, near Pickle Lake, was rushed and perfunctory.
· Workers on the scene of two fatalities at a condominium construction site in Toronto Friday have stated that the Ministry of Labour has not been inspecting the worksite on a regular basis since the OPSEU strike began.
“Time and time again we’ve seen this government look the other way when life-threatening decisions were being made,” said Casselman.
“The impression that is left is of a government that just doesn’t care,” she said. “We continue to wait for some indication that Ernie Eves is different from Mike Harris on that score.”
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For more information: Randy Robinson (416) 788-9134
