Wednesday, March 02, 2022
Collective bargaining for AMAPCEO’s Ontario Public Service (OPS) unit started off strong yesterday with a powerful statement from President Dave Bulmer, and an impressive demonstration of support, even from a distance, by AMAPCEO members.
In his opening statement directly to the Employer, Bulmer noted that Ontario’s public servants “rose to the challenge in the fight against COVID-19” and “went above and beyond to ensure essential public services continued with minimal impact to Ontarians.”
Bulmer acknowledged that this round of negotiations was occurring under the “unconstitutional constraints of Bill 124,” and encouraged the Employer to “treat your employees as an investment and assets.” Absent the ability to grant meaningful wage increases, Bulmer indicated the union’s bargaining team would be seeking improved terms and conditions for Ontario’s public service that “demonstrate humanity, increased quality of life, enhanced health, and greater certainty for the most precarious.”
OPS members across the province proudly showed their solidarity and support for their bargaining team by wearing their best AMAPCEO navy for meetings on-camera and in selfies they shared with their union.
All this came on the heels of Monday’s successful OPS Bargaining Kickoff Town Hall, a recording of which has now been posted on the AMAPCEO website (sign-in required).
AMAPCEO’s first video Town Hall featured an introduction by President Bulmer and a presentation on Bill-124 by Goldblatt Partners’ Steven Barrett. Over 90-minute session, Bulmer and Vice-President Cynthia Watt answered members’ questions about bargaining, including about benefits, flexible working conditions, and leave.
Members can look for updates on OPS bargaining online and find answers to their most frequently asked questions on our FAQ page.