OPS members ratify new collective agreement

AMAPCEO members in the Ontario Public Service (OPS) have chosen to ratify the new Collective Agreement. The vote was 82% for Yes and 18% for No.

This Agreement will last three years—from April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2025. Implementation of the new Agreement will begin shortly. AMAPCEO will be updating relevant Fact Sheets and providing members with information on the implementation process over the coming days. We urge all AMAPCEO members in the OPS to keep an eye on your inbox and ensure your personal information is up to date.

We know that this ratification vote was more fraught for many of you than votes of years past. From the beginning, we were bargaining under the long shadow of Bill 124, and the unconstitutional constraints it put on our ability to negotiate freely and fairly. And over the past week, we have seen this government wield legislation against workers simply exercising their right to bargain fair and reasonable agreements and to take job action when dissatisfied—an outrageous overstep.

We know that you are probably alarmed or angry about the events of the past week, and the months and years that preceded it. We are too. But we hope that you also feel the stirrings of solidarity, and the pride that comes from being part of the labour movement.

Today, you and your fellow members in the OPS made the choice to ratify a Collective Agreement that enshrines new provisions and enhances and protects existing ones. Understand that this does not suggest an acceptance of Bill 124, or the most recent piece of anti-worker legislation, Bill 28. It does not mean that we will now sit back and quietly go about our work as public service professionals.

Now, we will be calling on you to exercise your Collective Agreement rights.

Now, we will be calling on you to stand with CUPE education workers for as long as they need us.

Now, we will be calling on you to take collective actions that some of us have not had to take in quite a while, and others, never before. But we know that we will be stronger together.

Today you secured the best possible working conditions so that you can continue to fight on more stable ground.

Today is just the beginning. 

The Board of Directors would like to thank the OPS Bargaining Team, our staff, and legal counsel for all their hard work over the past eight months and greater 18 months of preparation.

Stronger together,

AMAPCEO Board of Directors