Union ad campaign puts focus on issues

TORONTO – Ontario government employees began a province-wide ad campaign yesterday in a bid to shift Ontario Public Service contract talks onto major issues at the Central Bargaining Table.

"[Management Board Chair] Chris Hodgson’s ‘spin’ on our bargaining is that it’s all about wages and we’re pushing for a strike for some reason," said Leah Casselman, president of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union. "That is a lie. The whole point of Hodgson’s comments is to terrorize our members and avoid talking about the real issues. The ad campaign is designed to put a little truth into the discussion.

"If Hodgson wants to talk about OPS bargaining, he should start by answering the questions our members are asking," said Casselman. "These questions are:

• "What is so unreasonable about downsizing by attrition?

• "What is so unreasonable about real jobs for contract workers?

• "What is so unreasonable about respecting seniority?

• "What is so unreasonable about using early retirement as a humane way to downsize?"

OPSEU represents 48,000 direct employees of the Ontario government in the largest bargaining unit in the Ontario Public Service. The government plans to cut the equivalent of 13,500 jobs in all bargaining units over the next two years.

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For the complete list of papers and stations carrying the ads, click here.

For more information: Randy Robinson (416) 448-7441; (416) 315-2982 (cell)

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