FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE April 21, 2006
Staff strike begins
tonight at the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan
TORONTO – Some 240 unionized
staff at the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan will be on
strike as of midnight tonight after two days of bargaining
failed to produce any movement from the employer’s side.
“The OTPP made a return on
investment of $14.1 billion in 2005,” said Brock Suddaby,
negotiator for Local 598 of the Ontario Public Service
Employees Union. “The staff of the plan have played, and
continue to play, a big role in the success of the plan.
They are going on strike because they want management to
recognize their contribution to that success.”
CEO Claude Lamoureux has
certainly enjoyed the fruits of the Plan’s success.
Lamoureux took home $5.5 million last year.
“The CEO of the OTPP made
more money last year than our members will make in their
entire lifetimes,” said Suddaby. “He made as much money in
2005 as 100 of our members. Yet he has the gall to demand a
longer work week from our members. He has the gall to demand
that a portion of staff pay be allotted to individuals
hand-picked by management.
“Our members are fed up with
the disrespect. They’re taking a stand.”
Staff at the OTPP assist with
investments, advise plan members of their rights and their
pension options, run computer systems, and provide
administrative support. While the strike officially begins
tonight, the large majority of staff will begin strike duty
on Monday morning, April 24.
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For more information:
Brock Suddaby (647)
225-2453 (cell)
