Three OPS Tele Town Hall meetings, held on Dec. 2-3, reached over 17,300 OPS members across the province. You can listen to a complete recording of each of the events using the links provided below.
Dozens of questions were answered regarding the employer's opening positions, strike vote information, the threat of privatization and outsourcing, along with specific questions on LTIP, TEI, benefits, pensions and bargaining timelines.
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A few words from the speakers who took questions from members on the three tele-town halls:
Warren (Smokey) Thomas, President – Premier Wynne continues on the privatization path, preparing to downsize, privatize and outsource more public sector jobs. The lower the cost of the payroll to deliver public services, the more attractive it is for private companies to take them over and reap huge profits. "This is all designed to lower the cost of public services. They really are pricing your jobs to sell."
Eduardo (Eddy) Almeida, 1st Vice-President/Treasurer – Asking for OPS wages to keep up with inflation is a small ask, all the more so because of the billions of dollars the Liberals have squandered on privatization fiascos and handouts to corporations. "It's not a lot to ask that the employer offer something for the folks who hold this province together and work hard day in and day out to make sure people get the services they need."
Roxanne Barnes, Central/Unified Chair – Members need to back the bargaining teams with a strong strike mandate and give the teams more power at the bargaining table to get a reasonable agreement. "A strong strike vote is a strong no to more cuts and a no to privatization."
Tom O’Neill, Corrections Chair – The government is busy pushing for concessions instead of tackling the real problem in corrections, the safety of inmates and corrections staff due to overcrowding, understaffing and lack of proper safety equipment and training. "We have record-setting assault numbers on inmates and staff. We have some of the most dangerous places in the country."
You can listen the Tele Town Halls in their entirety below:
Dec. 2, 8 p.m.
Dec. 3, 12:30 p.m.
Dec. 3, 8 p.m.
Related: OPS Bargaining 2014 Index Page