In a most regrettable move, the employer has chosen to ignore 45,000 people in this province and force us to exercise our 88 per cent strike mandate.
Even after their press releases and speeches promising all-night negotiations, the employer showed up to the table with only one proposal. That proposal still includes all of the things that you told us were unacceptable.
“We are encouraged by your phone calls of support and utter determination in attaining an ‘A’ Contract,” said Marg Simmons, chair of the OPS Central Team. “You have told us to stay the course and not give up on your fundamental issues. We have held true to that. We have tabled an offer that is reasonable, fair, and one that we all deserve.
The employer has decided that you don’t deserve what’s reasonable, or what’s fair.”
This strike is fundamentally about our “Three Rs”:
Renewal of the public service - the employer has rejected every one of our proposals to renew the public service.
Respect for employees who do the work - we have proposed wage and benefit improvements that allow employees to keep pace with inflation. We also maintain our commitment to our unclassified members in getting them converted to permanent classified positions. The employer has rejected this proposal.
Rejection of the employer take-aways - the employer has proposed almost $13 million dollars in cuts to our benefits (based on their costing) in return for their so-called improvements that are worth $3 million dollars (also based on their costing).
Pay for performance remains on the table, although written differently; term classified positions and the real threat to real jobs that this proposal entails, remain; no to Factor 80 remains; no to our ability to pay for Factor 80 remains.
By now, we all should know what our local inside strategies are. It is imperative that you begin with these strategies on Day One. We need our mobilization and determination levels to be what they were during Week 6 in 1996, not what they were at the start of Week 1.
We will continue to communicate with you at every step of the way. You will hear many rumours over the next few days and most of them will be from management. We have been up-front and factual with you from the beginning and we will continue to be that way.
You can contact the Central Team directly at (416) 815-1406, by fax at (416) 815-1412 or by e-mail at centralteam@opseu.org
Marg Simmons
Chair, L. 263, (905) 844-5239 (after hours)
Mark Kotanen,
Vice-chair, L. 128, (519) 336-6926 (after hours) mkotanen@tct.net
Jeff Bendig
L. 434, (613) 264-7580 (after hours), jeffbendig@hotmail.com
Teri Breau-Auzins
L. 506, (416) 721-2767 (after hours), teriauzins@rogers.com
Joseph Catroppa
L. 736, (807) 628-5147 (after hours), jncat@tbaytel.net
Laurie Chapman
L. 323, (705) 323-8172 (after hours), lchapman@bconnex.net
Michel Chaumont
L. 623, chaumont@attcanada.net
Darwin Lacelle
L. 447, 416 815 1406, dmlacell@nrtco.net
Steve Nield
L. 123, (519) 383-5643 (after hours)
Sandra Noad
L. 101, (519) 657-9518 (weekends), sanoad@rogers.com
James Roland
L. 720, (807) 345-4609 (after hours), jimrol@hotmail.com
Serge Valcourt
L. 634, (705) 497-4393 (after hours), opseu.634@sympatico.ca
Peter Wall
L. 638, (416) 815-1406
The Real Deal is your only accurate source of Central Team information during this round of bargaining. If you don’t read it here, you can't be sure it's true. Don’t rely on gossip and rumours. We will provide the facts.
The Real Deal will be available by fax, by e-mail, and on the OPSEU web site at www.opseu.org. To receive it directly, send your secure fax number to Lesley Williams at (416) 443-1762 or send your e-mail address to
lwilliams@opseu.org .
The Real Deal is authorized for distribution by Marg Simmons, chair, Central team, and Leah Casselman, president.
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