IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 15, 2002
MPPs pledge support for renewal of the Ontario Public Service
TORONTO – Leah Casselman, President of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) was joined today by MPPs Marilyn Churley (NDP) and Jim Bradley (Liberal) who pledged to support the renewal of the Ontario Public Service (OPS).
Casselman also used the opportunity to kick off a province-wide tour of OPS workplaces to meet with members to talk about bargaining and the need to rebuild our public services to protect public health and safety and the public interest.
“The real crisis in Ontario is a public service crisis, and that Ontario has no choice but to begin to rebuild. The way to do that is to support the people at the front lines by giving them the recognition and respect that they deserve,” said Casselman.
Extreme workloads, high stress, and low morale are the norm in many parts of the public service, Casselman said. Staff turnover has never been higher. Staff recruitment has never been harder.
“After years of cuts, layoffs, privatization, and mismanagement, after Walkerton, we need to start talking about how to rebuild our public service in Ontario,” said Bradley.
“Since Walkerton and the tragic events of Sept. 11 in the United States, it has become more clear than ever that we need to take steps to rebuild the public service,” Churley said.
Casselman will be visiting OPS workplaces in dozens of Ontario communities over the next month including Toronto, London, Ottawa, and Sudbury. OPSEU is currently bargaining with the government of Ontario for a new contract for its 45,000 OPS employees. The previous contract expired Dec. 31, 2001.
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For more information:
David Cox OPSEU Communications 416-443-8888 x314 Cell 416-788-9197
OPS Bargaining 2001: Complete Information
