OPSEU president says tough times call for stronger public sector

Toronto (24 October 2008) -- Media attention was focused on Warren (Smokey) Thomas, president of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE), on Wednesday after Ontario Finance Minister Dwight Duncan delivered his economic outlook forecast which warned that the provincial government would slow its rate of public spending in the face of a pending recession.

“Most people understand that when working people do well, business does well,” Thomas told reporters inside the Legislative building.

“We need good-paying jobs in the public sector to support good-paying jobs in the private sector,” said Thomas.

Thomas reminded the media that now is not the time to ease up on spending in the public sector. That sort of economic stimulus ensures that public services are maintained in local communities which have otherwise been hit hard by the economic downturn.

“In families where a private-sector job has been lost, the public sector job may be the only income for families.”

The OPSEU president was joined by the Corrections bargaining team members who attended the legislative sitting.

Several members of the media pressed Thomas on OPSEU’s expectations going into next year’s round of OPS and BPS bargaining.

“We’ve got 90,000 members going into bargaining over the next 12 to 18 months. There’s always going to be trouble going into bargaining. I’ve never had the government come to the table once yet and say the cupboard’s not bare.”