ServiceOntario members take their message directly to the public in 45 communities
UPDATED: Information pickets were held Feb. 24, Feb. 29 and March 5 in St. Catharines, Chapleau, and Picton respectively. As well, Local 649 sponsored the distribution of the union’s flyer on the dangers of privatizing ServiceOntario in the Timmins Daily Press on Feb. 25. Information pickets were held March 13, 14, 16 and 19 in Ottawa, Toronto (University Ave.), Brockville, Kanata and Kingston. The locations have been added to the list below.
February 17, 2012
ServiceOntario members held information pickets in 36 locations across Ontario
OPSEU members with ServiceOntario, supported by Executive Board members and members from other workplaces, gathered outside their worksites at noon-hour Friday to distribute critical information to the public. OPSEU members explained that the government’s plan to privatize ServiceOntario will lead to severely reduced access to front line services and jeopardize the security of people’s personal information.
ServiceOntario issues valuable government ID including health cards, driver’s licenses, and Ontario photo cards. This ID makes it possible for Ontarians to access health care, open a bank account, and cross the border into the U.S.
393 University Ave., Toronto: March 14
Barrie: Feb 17
Belleville: Feb 17
Chapleau: Feb 29
Dryden: Feb 17
Hamilton: Feb 17
Kingston: Feb 17
Kemptville: Feb 17
Nipigon: Feb 17
Oshawa: Feb 17
Ottawa: Feb 17
Peterborough: Feb 17
Picton: March 5
View news story at the countrylive.ca
St. Catharines: Feb 24
View news story and videos of rally at the St. Catharines Standard website
Thunder Bay: Feb 17
Toronto 47 Sheppard Avenue : Feb 17
More pickets
More pickets are planned in the weeks ahead. The locals referenced below are the organizers of the pickets; many other locals from across the union came out to show their solidarity and support. Updated: additional info pickets held Feb. 24, Feb. 29, March 5, 13, 14, 16, and 19.
- 100 Dundas Street, London
Local 102 - 38 North St., Goderich
Local 121 - 50 Frederick Hobson VC Dr., Simcoe
Local 221 - 1400 1st Ave., Owen Sound
Local 224 - 1400 Weber Street East, Kitchener
Local 230 - 30 Duke Streeet West, Kitchener
Local 230 - 1 Stone Rd. West, Guelph
Local 232 - 119 King St. E., Hamilton
Local 201 - 301 St. Paul Street East, St. Catharines
Niagara Area Council, Locals 211 and 270
picket held on Feb. 24 - 777 Bay Street, Toronto
Local 520 - 900 Bay Street, Toronto
Local 502 - 393 University Avenue, Toronto
Local 528
pickets held Feb. 17 and March 14 - 47 Sheppard Ave. E , Toronto
Local 510 - 34 Simcoe St., Unit 102, Barrie
Locals 338, 313 - 7 Bay Street, Parry Sound
Local 319 - 300 Water St., Peterborough
Local 362 - 40 King Street West, Oshawa
Locals 340, 302 - 199 Front St., Century Place, Belleville
Local 455 - 1 Pitt Street, Picton
Local 448
picket held on March 5 - 7 Snow Rd. Unit 2, Napanee
Local 455 - 10 Campus Dr., Kemptville
Local 434 - 316 Plaunt St. S., Renfrew
Local 449 - 1201 Division St., Kingston
Local 430 - 303 Bagot St., Suite 2, Office of John Gerretsen, MPP, Kingston,
Local 468 - 1355 John Counter Blvd, Kingston
Locals 430 and 432
picket held March 19 - 7 King Street West, Brockville
Local 440
picket held March 14 - 110 Laurier Ave. W, City Hall, Ottawa
Local 405 - 411 Roosevelt Avenue, Ottawa
Local 405
picket held March 13 - 580 Terry Fox Drive, Kanata
Local 445
picket held March 16 - 447 McKeown Ave., North Bay
Local 634 - Corner of Elgin St. and Queen St., Sault Ste. Marie
Local 601 - 199 Larch St., Sudbury
Local 629 - 190 Cherry Street, Chapleau
Local 652
picket held Feb. 29 - 62 Queen Street, Sioux Lookout
Local 703 - 435 South James St., Thunder Bay
Local 710 - 189 Red River Rd., 11:45 a.m. – 1:15 p.m., Thunder Bay
Local 736 - 479 Government Street, Dryden
Local 727 - 40 Manitou Rd., Manitouwadge
Local 721 - 52 Peninsula Rd., Marathon
Renee Leclair, Local 721 - 1004 Highway 17, Terrace Bay
Local 723 - 5 Wadsworth Drive, Nipigon
Local 724 - 108 Saturn Ave., Atikokan
Local 725 - 922 Scott St., Fort Frances
Local 735