TORONTO – OPSEU president Leah Casselman will join striking workers for a protest against “appalling” mismanagement at the Centre for Spanish-Speaking Peoples.
Date: Friday, Dec. 5, 2003
Time: 12:00 noon
Place: Centre for Spanish-Speaking Peoples, 2141 Jane Street (at Wilson), TORONTO
The workers, members of OPSEU Local 512, went on strike Dec. 1 to fight the employer’s demand for a 30 per cent pay cut and massive cuts to benefits. The Centre provides Legal Aid services and help for new immigrants, women escaping abuse, and people with AIDS.
“We have seen this movie many times before,” said Casselman. “A small agency, funded by government and the United Way, declares a financial crisis as it goes into bargaining. Despite the alleged crisis, they buy a new office building that they can’t afford. Somehow they never quite seem to know the state of their finances. Their solution to their
own incompetence is to attack the people who do the work. Then there’s a strike.
“We also know how the movie ends,” Casselman said. “The strike is bitter, the funders are appalled, and months later the executive director quietly exits the scene, possibly accompanied by a few Board members.”
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For more information:
English: Marilyn Youden, OPSEU negotiator (416) 996-4504
Spanish/English: Consuelo Rubio or Ruth Lara, OPSEU Local 512 (416) 432-8157
