Votes in favour of strike action if necessary
The union that represents more than 350 workers at Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) offices has rejected a proposed four-year deal.
The Ontario Public Service Staff Union (OPSSU) voted to reject a tentative agreement and in favour of strike action. The measure to reject received a 68 per cent majority.
The union received a strong mandate to return to the table, said OPSSU first vice-president Pati Habermann.
"Our employer cannot buy labour peace with a four-year deal. Our members have indicated clearly that this tentative agreement is unacceptable," said Habermann.
Despite the bargaining team recommending the proposed deal, OPSSU members said it falls short of what it considers an acceptable offer.
Key issues discussed before the tentative agreement was rejected included a failure to address high levels of non-compensated overtime, inadequate language around the issue of workplace harassment and the length of the proposed deal, said the union.
OPSSU has not voted down an agreement in 20 years. The current collective agreement expired on June 30, 2016. OPSSU recently voted to increase available strike funds to $1.7 million at a general membership meeting.
OPSSU represents permanent, part-time, contract/temporary and on-call workers at OPSEU's head office in Toronto and at 19 regional OPSEU offices across Ontario. Staff provide a wide range of services to more than 130,000 OPSEU members.
