Union backs family in prosecution
after college picket line death
TORONTO – An Ajax man has been charged in
connection with the death of an OPSEU member who was hit by a car on a
picket line in the community college faculty strike last spring.
Joshua Donnelly, 22, appeared in court today
to face charges of criminal negligence causing death and leaving the scene
of a motor vehicle accident.
Prof. John Stammers, 62, died March 25, 2006
from injuries suffered in a picket line incident involving a vehicle March
20. Police did not lay charges at the time, but the Stammers family, with
the assistance of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, brought the
charges forward in a private prosecution.
On Sept. 22, Justice Kerr of the Ontario
Court of Justice ruled there were grounds for a summons to issue on both
charges.
“Our family was upset when we heard that the
police did not lay charges,” said Joanne Fulkerson, on behalf of the
Stammers family. “John did not cause his own death, as certain media stories
at the time suggested. We are satisfied that the driver of the vehicle may
now be held to account by the court for his actions.”
OPSEU represents the 9,000 community college
faculty who were on strike when this event occurred. OPSEU President Leah
Casselman said workers on a picket line must be afforded full legal
protection.
“Our members on picket lines need the same
legal protections afforded to other members of society,” she said. “Tensions
may rise but picketers have a legal right to be there and communicate their
message to the public. There is no impunity: the law must protect picketers
as it protects any citizen.”
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For more information, please contact:
Roman Stoykewych, OPSEU General Counsel
416-443-8888 x8230
