With two days left, bargaining team returns to the table looking for a fair deal
There are two days remaining until the 12:01 a.m. strike deadline on June 17. With bargaining dates set for June 15 and 16, the members of the union bargaining team are returning to the table with a clear message – it’s time for a fair deal that recognizes the real value that OPSEU members at MPAC deliver. As pictures continue to stream in from the province-wide information pickets held last Thursday, the employer knows that members are united in their resolve not to be forced into accepting a deal that is out of sync with other municipal sector deals that have been signed recently.
Show your support for our team by wearing black this Wednesday and Thursday
As our bargaining team returns to the table, we are asking all members to show their support for the bargaining team by wearing black to work and wearing their bargaining buttons on the last two days of bargaining before the strike deadline, June 15 and 16. Members who work Alternate Work Arrangements (AWA) should show up to work in their offices for these two days.
As our team sits down with the employer, strengthened by the show of support from members across the province last week, we are aware of the strike deadline approaching this Friday, June 17 at 12:01 a.m. The employer’s recent communications have highlighted that as of 12:01 a.m., the union will be in a position to strike – and the employer will be in a position to lock employees out.
This means that it’s critically important that all members have completed the necessary preparations to make sure that you receive your strike pay if a work stoppage does occur. That means completing your Form B, so we can deposit strike pay to your account, and completing training if you are a picket captain.
Again, I want to thank all the members who took the time last Thursday to join information pickets – your support is what gives us the strength to continue to push for a deal that recognizes the real value our members deliver every day.
In solidarity,
David Lynch
Chair, OPSEU Bargaining Team at MPAC
Letter to financial institutions now online
Eduardo (Eddy) Almeida, OPSEU’s First Vice-President / Treasurer, has written to major financial institutions in Ontario about the potential for a strike. In these letters, he requests that they ask their staff to work with members to reach accommodations on loan payments in the case of a strike or lockout. Members can take a copy of the relevant letter with them when meeting with their bank or credit union – copies are available on the OPSEU website.
IMA conference update
As mentioned in yesterday’s email, the Institute of Municipal Assessors (IMA) has agreed to extend the cancellation deadline for their conference to today, June 14. At this time, all members who are registered to attend should cancel their registrations. Should a deal be reached at the table, the IMA has agreed to work with members to re-register for the conference without penalty.