OPSEU has won a victory against the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) on behalf of members who moved out of the Ministry of Finance to OPAC/MPAC in 1998.
In 2016, OPSEU filed a grievance when MPAC refused to provide a special compensation entitlement on termination laid out in the collective agreement. Arbitrator Robert D. Howe ruled that certain OPSEU members who transferred from the Ontario Public Service to MPAC are entitled to the special compensation payments.
MPAC challenged the arbitration award and filed for judicial review of Arbitrator Howe’s decision. However, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice upheld the ruling and dismissed the employer’s challenge.
The members affected include those employed with the Ministry of Finance as an unclassified employee working full time hours who went to MPAC as a temporary employee.
They would qualify for an enhanced severance payout from the date they became a non-temporary employee.
OPSEU is now working with the employer to determine the individual amounts that members will receive.
“This was a great win for our members, and we want to thank all of those who made this possible,” said OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas. “This is an example of the kind of patience and dogged perseverance it takes to hold employers accountable.
“We won’t let employers nickel-and-dime our members out of money they are rightfully entitled to.”