HAMILTON – Leah Casselman, President of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) visits Hamilton today to promote the renewal of the Ontario Public Service (OPS) as contract talks with the government proceed.
“The real crisis in Ontario is a public service crisis, and Ontario has no choice but to begin to rebuild. Public servants ensure that our streets are safe, that our food is safe, that our water is safe. We must support the people on the front lines by giving them the recognition and respect that they deserve and need to do their jobs,” 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. The OPS has lost more than 23,000 employees in six years, one-third of its workforce.
“After years of cuts, layoffs, privatization, and mismanagement, after Walkerton and Sept. 11, we need to start talking about how to rebuild our public service in Ontario,” she said. “Now more than ever, we need to support our members on the front lines.”
Casselman is meeting with members and touring several OPS workplaces in Hamilton today. She will visit OPS workplaces in dozens of Ontario communities over the next month including Thunder Bay, North Bay and Sudbury.
OPSEU is bargaining with the government of Ontario for a new contract for 45,000 OPS employees. The union applied for conciliation Jan. 24. The contract expired Dec. 31, 2001.
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For more information:
David Cox, OPSEU Communications: 416-443-8888 x314 Cell 416-788-9197
Gerry Foreman, OPSEU Hamilton Office: 905-525-5527 Cell 905-517-9402
OPS Bargaining 2002: Complete Information
