"It has become absolutely clear that the government will not bargain," said union president Leah Casselman. "This appears to be the only way we can get a serious contract proposal. We’re demanding it, and the government will have to comply." \
"We will put the government’s offer to our members in votes across the province between March 3 and 5. The government will have to listen when 48,000 members talk."
"The government is demanding huge concessions across the collective agreement. It just won’t do," she said.
Casselman said in the last round of bargaining, the government made more movement in the 48 hours leading up to the final contract offer than in all the previous months of bargaining. "This is our way of telling them it is time to get serious," she said.
The government now has 48 hours to give the union a comprehensive contract offer. OPSEU will take that offer to its members in a province-wide vote, set to take place between March 3 and 5. The votes will be counted and tallied over the weekend and released Monday, March 8.
For further information:
Katie FitzRandolph (OPSEU Communications) (416) 448-7440 or home (416) 967-5964 Randy Robinson (OPSEU Communications) (416) 448-7441 0r cell (416) 315-2982 Pierre Floréa (OPSEU Communications) (416) 448-7442, c. (416) 258-1231 Leah Casselman (OPSEU President) (416) 443-8888 Ext. 300
