Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Last week, AMAPCEO launched our “No More Pay Delays!” petition campaign in response to the Ontario Public Service (OPS) Employer’s revelation that they were delaying the April 1, 2024 across-the-board (ATB) wage increases negotiated in the last round of collective bargaining, as well as the Bill 124 remedy backpay.
We encouraged members to sign the petition and, if you were comfortable, to share your story of how delaying this scheduled pay increase impacted has you.
AMAPCEO members were ready and willing to answer the call. To date, the petition has more than 6,000 signatures and more than 1,500 impact stories.
These stories paint a picture the OPS Employer should be ashamed of—delays are significantly affecting members’ ability to support their families, access out-of-pocket healthcare, and make crucial payments. Delays have also eroded trust in the Employer and willingness to continue to work for the OPS or recommend it to others.
While there are too many stories to share them all in a single post, below are a few examples, in your own words, of how the delay to the pay increase is affecting you.
"As a single mother, I am relying on this money to help pay for bills and put food on the table for my child and myself. It is not right or fair to keep payment back when it is rightfully ours."
“I am providing elderly care on one salary to both of my parents. I need this pay increase to buy groceries and pay for health supports for my father who has advanced Parkinson's disease.”
“My wife and I have therapy costs for our Autistic son that exceed $3,000 per month. I was hopeful that I would be able to help contribute more towards this necessity and am anxiously waiting this backpay.”
“I’m saving for my small wedding in August and could really use the money to help fund it.”
“I would like to send the money overseas to help towards a fund for a family member’s cancer treatment. That will have to wait.”
“My partner was just downsized and I need this pay to make sure our young family of four is covered over the next few months. Every dollar counts.”
“I am a caregiver to an elderly person and needed the money to pay for a personal support worker and other mobility devices. Now I have to put all that on hold!”
“I just had a baby and our landlord is taking us to the Landlord and Tenant Board for a 12.5% rental increase. Without this increase and our deserved back pay we are going to be hard pressed to find other housing options.”
What AMAPCEO members are experiencing is completely unacceptable. We need to show the Employer that we are strong and united, and that we will not stand for this.
If you have not yet signed the petition, we urge you to do so now.
Together, we can keep pressure on the Employer. We can show them we know we deserve better, and that we say no to more pay delays!
