TORONTO – About 20 members of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, on strike at the Syl Apps facility for young offenders in Oakville since April 15, are taking their issues to the Ontario legislature today.
The strikers plan to meet with members of the NDP caucus to raise concerns over the eight-week disruption to the 80-bed secure custody facility which houses some of the province’s most disturbed young people.
Even though the 145 unionized employees have been off the payroll since mid April, government funds to cover their salaries continue to flow to Kinark, the private company that now operates Syl Apps.
“Where is that money going, now that the employees are not there?” asked OPSEU President Leah Casselman, who worked at Syl Apps before she became head of the 100,000-member union. “Basic accountability for public dollars should ensure that Kinark doesn’t make a windfall profit by forcing a labour disruption.”
Syl Apps is a detention and treatment facility housing psychiatrically disturbed adolescents and young offenders whose crimes include armed robbery, sexual assault and murder.
Key issues in dispute are health and safety, slashed sick time, concession demands around Workers Safety and Insurance Board issues, and wages. Staffing levels have been cut and the emergency response team is in jeopardy.
Employees have rejected a one-year contract with no wage increase. Kinark’s executive director at Syl Apps has received an increase of $37,600.
Since the start of bargaining, Kinark has frustrated efforts to resolve contract issues. It applied instantly for conciliation and forced a no-board after the first exchange of contract proposals, which started the clock ticking toward a strike. A brief return to the table in May produced no results and no further talks are scheduled.
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For further information:
Don Ford: 416-448-7442 or cell 416-788-9104 or dford@opseu.org
