Members of all three OPS unions at the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs' office in Toronto got together today to take a solidarity picture. They are members of ALOC, (Association of Law Officers of the Crown), AMAPCEO and OPSEU.
"Members of all three unions at 160 Bloor St. E. thought it was really important to show our support for each other,” said Tracey Rigden, steward of OPSEU Local 580. “We care about protecting public services and believe the employees who deliver them should be treated fairly. We hope solidarity will catch on across the province!”
ALOC and AMAPCEO are in bargaining with the government. AMAPCEO and the government have agreed to a mutual freeze on negotiations during the provincial election with bargaining to resume two weeks after a new cabinet is sworn in.
OPSEU locals are in an earlier stage of the bargaining cycle. They are voting on their priority demands and electing delegates to the regional bargaining conferences in June. The regional conferences are the first of a two-step process for the election of the two bargaining teams.
Last week's Ontario Budget called for a further $1.25 billion in spending cuts, asset sales and privatization, and more cuts to wage and benefit costs in the public sector.