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OPSEU protests for fairness for student workers in Northwestern Ontario

August 18, 2009

OPSEU continues to make waves as the OPS summer students’ quest for fairness reaches Northwestern Ontario. Provincial Cabinet members are now feeling the heat. On Friday August 14th, 2009, an information picket was held outside Thunder Bay-Superior North MPP, Michael Gravelle’s constituency office. Gravelle is the Minister of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry.

Students working for the Ontario government are feeling cheated, since the contracts they signed are not being honored by the McGuinty government. They have reneged on their promise to pay students 8.16 percent of gross pay, to be added to their hourly wage in lieu of holiday and vacation pay.

Not only are students feeling the pinch because they have to scramble to cover the costs of continually rising tuition fees and living expenses, but they are now short an additional $400 to $600.

Student workers at Ontario provincial parks and tourist attractions and are expected to stage more information pickets in the weeks ahead.

Fairness for Ontario government summer students Index