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OPSEU/NUPGE waiting for full court transcript before deciding on possible appeal.
Toronto (20 April 2015) — The decision by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice to dismiss a charter challenge against the way the province changed its social assistance computer technology is “disappointing,” said Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE) President Warren (Smokey) Thomas.
Court challenge launched on behalf of people on social assistance affected by SAMS mistakes
“Madame Justice Pollak chose to see the case as arising from the union’s collective agreement with the government, but we took it forward on behalf of the vulnerable people on social assistance and disability pensions who don’t have the resources to make such a challenge,” he said.
“OPSEU/NUPGE made the challenge in the public interest. We maintain the government had enough advance warning about the impending problems with the Social Assistance Management System (SAMS) that it should have delayed implementation rather than putting social welfare recipients in jeopardy.”
Thomas said the union would wait until it got the full transcript of the judge’s decision before deciding on an appeal.
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The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE