AGO workers have voted 96% in
favour of a strike, confirming that they are
ready to walk out if they are not offered a fair
deal. Overwhelming turnout for the vote came as
39 employees were due to be let go.
It looks like Tut is not the
only “Golden King” at the AGO. The 2009 sunshine
list has just been released, revealing that AGO
CEO, Matthew Teitelbaum, received close to a
million dollars in paid salary last year. Given
the planned layoffs, it is ironic that this
amount includes a bonus for reaching fundraising
targets.
“The AGOs lack of respect for
their employees is highlighted by their CEO’s
salary” says OPSEU President, Smokey Thomas.
“First they pay out a massive bonus to Matthew
Teiltelbaum, and now they cut the jobs of the
front-line workers who provide the quality
services that the public depends on.”
“Moving ahead with job cuts in
the middle of negotiating a collective
agreement, the AGO has further destabilized the
bargaining process.” says union spokesperson
Paula Whitmore. Both parties will be meeting
with a conciliator on April 14th.
Announcing in February that it
will be receiving a $7.5 million contribution
from the federal government’s Infrastructure
Stimulus Fund, the AGO plans to use this funding
for a planned new Weston Family Learning Centre.
It is unclear how they will staff this new
venture.
OPSEU local 535 has been without
a contract since November, 2009. Key issues in
negotiations have been job security and layoffs
.
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