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