FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 17, 2002

Employees at the Syl Apps Youth Centre in Oakville vote 84 per cent to strike

Toronto - Employees at the Syl Apps Youth Centre in Oakville, members of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), have backed up their rejection of the employer’s contract offer with a strong strike mandate.

OPSEU members participated in two separate votes on October 16. They voted 85 per cent to reject the employer’s contract offer and 84 per cent to give their bargaining team the authorization to call a strike if necessary.

The Ontario Labour Relations Act requires the two votes when a first contract is being negotiated.

The formerly provincially-run Syl Apps Youth Centre is a young offenders facility which was privatized by the provincial government in 2001. It is now operated by Kinark Child and Family Services.

Syl Apps is an 80-bed facility which houses young offenders aged 12 to 16 for crimes including armed robbery, murder and sexual assault.

Carl Carson, chair of the union’s bargaining team, said health and safety is at the root of the members’ rejection of the offer. Carson said Kinark wants to reduce staffing, thereby putting the health and safety of employees in danger.

“It's all about health and safety to us,” said Carson. “We don’t want to see any staff or young offenders killed because the employer doesn’t have enough trained staff.”

Carson said the strike mandate has given the bargaining team the leverage to go back to the bargaining table and demand improvements to the safety and security of the workplace.

The earliest bargaining can resume is October 31, when the union and the employer are tentatively scheduled to meet with the provincial conciliator.

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For further information:

Carl Carson: 905-920-3406
Tom Wood: 416-443-8888 ext. 466