FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 28, 2006
OPSEU Local 598
Ontario Teachers’
Pension Plan is breaking faith with plan members’ principles
TORONTO – Striking staff at the
Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan say the plan management’s
actions are at odds with the core principles of teachers and
their unions.
OTPP staff were forced out on
strike April 22 when plan management demanded staff work a
longer work week; and staff allow management to allot a
portion of their pay at management’s discretion, not as part
of the pay grid.
“OTPP has a fiduciary
responsibility to teachers that is not being realized during
this strike, because they are unable to provide full services
to members,” said Andy Kayser, president of Local 598 of the
Ontario Public Service Employees Union, representing the 250
striking members.
The plan represents the
financial interests of one of the largest and strongest groups
of unionized workers in Canada (the teachers of Ontario) and
yet is not abiding by their principles, the union says.
By encouraging the use of scabs
including replacement workers; not bargaining a settlement;
demanding concessions that would be unacceptable to teachers
themselves; and refusing to go to binding arbitration, the
OTPP has given up on its own principles, the union says. “OTPP
has an emphasis on good governance – why is it not happening
now?” Kayser asked.
“Teachers’ unions would not
agree to either of plan management's proposals, and neither
will we,” said Kayser.
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For more information:
Andy Kayser (416) 939-0947
Brock Suddaby (647) 225-2453
