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"Every one of our union's 155,000 members is proud of these women and men for fighting for decent wages and working conditions." — Eduardo (Eddy) Almeida, OPSEU First Vice-President / Treasurer
Hamilton (24 August 2018) — The 4 month lockout at the Arrell Youth Centre in Hamilton is over. The 60 members of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE), Local 216 have voted narrowly in favour of an agreement reached on August 21.
“These youth correctional workers deserve to hold their heads up high," said Warren (Smokey) Thomas, OPSEU President. "They know the work they do matters. They know the work they do is incredibly important to the youth they support and to the community. And by standing strong together, they got the respect they deserve."
"This is a sorry employer who chose to bully their own workers. This behaviour will not be soon forgotten," said Thomas.
OPSEU/NUPGE members sent a clear message to employer
The members were locked out on April 27, after refusing to accept significant clawbacks to their contract, but they forced the employer to back down.
They rejected a tentative agreement reached earlier in August, forcing the employer back to the table.
"Every one of our union's 155,000 members is proud of these women and men for fighting for decent wages and working conditions," said Eduardo (Eddy) Almeida, OPSEU First Vice-President / Treasurer.
"And as a Hamilton resident and a correctional officer, I'm proud of them for fighting for quality rehabilitation and for sending a clear message to this employer," said Almeida.