GRCA members ratify contract with wage increases, privatization protection

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Cambridge – The members of OPSEU Local 259 working at the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) have ratified a contract that includes significant wage increases, protection from contracting-out, and a number of other improvements.

“This is a great deal for our members, and great news for all the people in the communities they serve,” said OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas. 

“Everybody wins when workers are paid a decent and fair wage. And everybody wins when a local like this bargains language that will prevent their jobs from being contracted out or privatized.”

The roughly 150 members of Local 259 work at the GRCA as planners, assistant superintendents, and environmental officers.

Their new four-year contract includes wage increases of between six and 14 per cent. It also includes language that prevents the employer from contracting-out their work, and improvements to time-off and on-call provisions. 

“I’m tremendously proud of these members for standing up for themselves and the work they do protecting the Grand River watershed,” said OPSEU First Vice-President / Treasurer Eduardo (Eddy) Almeida. 

“From each and every one of our union’s 155,000 members: congratulations.”

OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas: 613-329-1931