Initial vote held in November, but made public Feb. 23: Union
All staff members working for the Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario (ACTO) in Toronto have become members of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU).
The vote on whether to unionize was held on Nov. 29, but legal wrangling at the Ontario Labour Relations Board delayed opening the ballot boxes until Feb. 23. The vote in favour of joining OPSEU was unanimous, said the union.
"The result of the vote was well worth the long wait," said Kareen Marshall, chair of OPSEU's community agencies division. "When you get a unanimous vote on unionizing, it's a great harbinger of success. Solidarity is key to achieving a great first contract and future contracts."
ACTO employs a mix of lawyers and support staff. Marshall said a number of issues led them to seek representation by OPSEU.
ACTO is funded by Legal Aid Ontario. It is a legal aid clinic that helps low-income residents, including tenants, co‑op members and homeless people. It operates the Tenant Duty Counsel Program, which provides legal advice to unrepresented low-income tenants at Landlord and Tenant Board offices, said OPSEU.
