FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 20, 2002

Union calls Day of Action for court workers

TORONTO - The Ontario Public Service Employees Union has called a province-wide Day of Action in support of workers in the Ontario court system.

“Beneath the regal façade of the Ontario court system is a shaky foundation built on the tired backs of some of the most oppressed workers in the Ontario Public Service,” said Leah Casselman, president of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union. “On Monday, March 25, we will be putting their case before the public with a loud, clear voice in every part of the province.”

Ontario’s 2,500 court workers include court clerks, counter clerks, court reporters, court service officers, trial coordinators, judges’ secretaries, and many others. Over 90 per cent are women; over 50 per cent are contract workers with no benefits, no pensions, and no job security except their short-term contracts. Eighty-eight per cent of court reporters work on short-term contracts.

“It is ironic that the workers who are deemed to be 100 per cent essential to the work of the province, even in a strike situation, are the least likely to have permanent jobs,” said Casselman. “A judge who goes off on a three-day conference may also be laying off many of his or her staff for three days with no pay. How are they supposed to live in the meantime?”

On March 19, the Ontario Labour Relations Board did not rule that OPSEU members had been engaging in illegal strike activity when they had refused to do non-essential parts of their jobs, but ordered them to resume all job activities anyway.

“Our members will comply with the Board’s order to the letter,” said Casselman, “but they will not shut up about the way they’re being treated.”

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For more information:

Randy Robinson (416) 448-7441;
Katie FitzRandolph (416) 448-7440