Amid return to table, OCEU opens new picket line in Barrie

BARRIE, ON –(COMMUNITYWIRE)– The union representing WSIB employees is back in negotiations after the WSIB management finally returned to the table this morning. The union has been on the picket line since WSIB locked its members out of their systems on Wednesday in response to legal job action.

While talks resume in Toronto, OCEU members living in the Barrie area are opening the newest picket line for the union. “We want to make sure that workers in Ontario see us,” said Harry Goslin, President of OCEU/CUPE 1750. “Our members serve workers in every community in the province, and that includes Barrie.”

The Union is hoping the mediator Brian O’Byrne will get all parties back to the table by Thursday. “Our members remain united, despite the attempts by the employer to divide and intimidate us,” said Nicole Francis, Chief Steward for the union. “We’re hoping the employer will take bargaining seriously this time and come prepared to work with us to find a fair deal for our members.”

In a press release from WSIB yesterday, they once again gave false information claiming there are no concessions in their proposals. The truth is the WSIB has significant cuts to the existing agreement on the table. Saying otherwise is just not true.

Talks are scheduled to take place at the Sheraton Conference Center in Toronto on Thursday. The Union remains hopeful that the WSIB will show up.

Picket lines remain up across the province.

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For more information, please contact:

Bill Chalupiak, CUPE Communications Representative
wchalupiak@cupe.ca
416-707-1401