TORONTO – Bargaining teams for Ontario government employees have cut their wage demands in half in a bid to move talks forward to a settlement before their strike deadline tomorrow night.

Wage demands at the six Category bargaining teams now range from 8 per cent to 9.5 per cent over a proposed two-year agreement.

"This new position is aimed at restoring public service wages to their 1993 level by the year 2001," said OPSEU president Leah Casselman. "It’s modest, it’s reasonable, and it’s already been paid for from wage savings over the last five years."

Inflation has cut union wages in the public service by 6.9 per cent since Jan. 1, 1994. At that rate, inflation will cut another 2.8 per cent from wages over the next two years.

Casselman said the wage move was aimed at spurring further progress on key Central Table issues like "Factor 80" early retirement, protection of seniority, job security, and the rights of contract workers.

"Our members are on red alert in workplaces across the province. If we can’t get a deal, we will be on strike at midnight tomorrow," she said. "But if we don’t get a deal, it won’t be for lack of serious and reasonable negotiating on our part."

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

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