Table Talk

Bargaining information for OPSEU members in the Ontario Public Service

June 15, 2001

Tories squirm as members speak out on Bill 25

One hour and 55 minutes.

That's how long the public hearings into Bill 25 lasted.

Introduced April 30, Bill 25 could have a big effect on OPSEU

members in the Ontario Public Service. It will let the government create a

new kind of "term classified" contract worker. It will let private operators

be the boss of government employees. It will let more people view OPS

employees' personnel files. And it will give the Ontario Provincial Police

Association a chance to absorb 2,500 OPSEU members.

The hearings took place in Toronto on June 13. Despite short notice,

OPSEU members came out in force. Denis Perreault, president of Local 364,

was joined by Marg Simmons, chair of the OPSEU bargaining team in the OPS;

team vice-chair Mark Kotanen; and four chairs of OPSEU Ministry Employee

Relations Committees: Alicia Czekierda (Education), Terry Downey

(Citizenship), Ron Marciniak (Municipal Affairs and Housing), and Doug

Peebles (Agriculture and Food).

OPSEU president Leah Casselman had government MPPs squirming in their seats

from the start.

"I leave it to you to decide how embarrassed you should be," she told them.

"Bill 25 concerns a public institution that directs the spending of $64

billion every year. At another time in this province, a Bill of this sort

would have been the subject of weeks of hearings."

Casselman accused the government MPPs of "profound disrespect" for the

public service.

"The good of the people"

Ron Marciniak led off with a stirring ode to the power of an impartial,

accountable public service.

"I have been a member of the Ontario Public Service for nine years," he

said. "In those nine years my work has been led by experienced, responsible

senior public servants," he said. "We understand, all of us, the balance

between responsible fiscal stewardship and the delivery of services and

programs. It is our business. We are all accountable. We do not always agree

with the direction our political leaders wish to take, but as Dwight D.

Eisenhower said, 'Never confuse honest dissent with disloyal subversion.'"

Marciniak followed with a blistering attack on new rules in Bill 25 that

give authority over public services to private operators.

"I am at a loss as to how the citizens of this province will benefit with

having the powers and authority of trusted public servants given to 'another

person or persons' who do not share our vision of service without profit,"

he said.

"The basic economic principles of supply and demand have no place in the

public service. We do not close up and leave town if our services are not

making money; our services must continue to be available to those who need

them.

"We, all of us, are responsible for Cicero's greatest law: 'the good of the

people.'"

Privacy at risk

Terry Downey got into a spirited debate with Tory MPP Marilyn Mushinski over

the way Bill 25 will broaden access to employee records, including medical

records.

"To allow any individual access to an employee's medical information without

consent is discriminatory and a violation of the Human Rights Code," Downey

said. "The Code has primacy over all other legislation. The government

should not be breaking its own law."

Downey demanded privacy safeguards if the Bill is passed.

Food safety at risk

Doug Peebles' presentation was an eye-opener as well.

Bill 25 will give the government more options for using contract staff.

Peebles said that replacing Ontario's full-time classified meat inspectors

with contract staff has put food safety at risk. Wages and working

conditions for these 130 contract staff are so bad that few that take the

job keep it for long. These "fee-for-service" workers even have to invoice

the government to get paid, Peebles said.

"The supply of safe meat to your families is contingent on this temporary,

inexperienced work force," he said.

"In a recent MERC meeting, we asked Ministry management about... the high

rate of meat inspector turnover. They indicated that it was a serious

problem for them.

"In the past five-six years we have repeatedly cautioned the employer about

the revolving door, the gaps in service, and the likelihood of public health

being threatened due to the lack of experienced classified staff."

Peebles' remarks hit home with Liberal MPP Marie Bountrogianni. "The whole

time you're talking, I've got Walkerton on my mind," she said.

A slamming door

Denis Perreault spoke at length of the Bill's bias in favour of the

OPPA. Bill 25 deviates from standard labour relations practice, Perreault

said.

"The bias is really clear when you consider the fact that, if a majority of

OPP civilians vote to join the OPPA, Bill 25 will not allow them to ever

vote again if they change their minds. So much for democracy!" he said.

"The government is selling Bill 25 to OPP civilians as a door opening. In

reality, it is a door that opens once - and then slams shut forever."

Changes still possible

MPPs have until the end of Friday, June 15 to present amendments to

Bill 25. Those amendments, if any, will be voted on when the General

Government Committee meets next. Bill 25 will then go to final reading in

the legislature.

Find out more