OPSEU President Smokey Thomas joined locked-out members of Local 262 on Tuesday of this week to boost morale and reinforce the union’s support. The workers were in good spirits and determined not to settle for the wage concessions demanded by their employer.
On Oct. 28, the Ontario March of Dimes locked out the workers that provide vital services people with disabilities and replaced them with outside, temporary workers.
Despite declaring themselves a “non-profit” charity that also canvasses heavily for public donations, the Ontario March of Dimes has assets in excess of $30 million, a reported $900,000 surplus in its previous two years, and a CEO that is paid $270,000 a year;
“The March of Dimes seems more interested in making profits from the people it’s supposed to be supporting than treating its own workers with dignity and respect,” Thomas told the crowd of workers and supporters. “You have my support, and the support of 130,000 members of OPSEU.”
Anyone wishing to assist these workers can:
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Join the picket line at 259 Robinson St, Oakville, 6 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
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Make a donation by cheque, payable to OPSEU Local 262, and mail to OPSEU Local 262 Picket Fund, 505 York Blvd, Hamilton, ON L8R 3K4
Contact March of Dimes Chairperson John Humphries at info@marchofdimes.ca and tell him to spend the donor dollars on those in need.
The clients of the workers at the Oakville facility are tenants of the Ontario March of Dimes-owned apartment complex on Robinson Street in Oakville.
