TORONTO – Employees of the AGO represented by OPSEU Local 535 ratified a new collective agreement Thursday afternoon.
Negotiators for the union and the employer had reached a tentative agreement on Nov. 29. Staff had previously voted overwhelmingly in favour of a strike, with a legal strike deadline of Dec. 6.
Highlights of the settlement include improved entitlements in the event of layoff, and a wage increase of 8 per cent over three years. The settlement also provides for union-employer consultation during the AGO’s upcoming expansion project, and modest job security through this period.
“Through this round of bargaining, we’ve been primarily concerned with the impact that the expansion could have,” said Lisa Walter, president of Local 535. “We were able to negotiate a process to deal with issues as they arise. However, many of our questions are still unanswered.”
OPSEU represents 300 full- and part-time employees at the AGO, who work in almost all areas of the operation, including technical services, special events, curatorial, and education. Their previous contract expired Nov. 30, 2002.
- 30 –
For further information:
Lisa Walter – 416-420-4786
