SooToday received the following open letter to Sault MPP Ross Romano from Vicky Evans, President, CUPE Local 4148 and Vice President, Sault Ste. Marie & District CUPE Council.
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Dear Mr. Romano,
Congratulations on your recent election to the position of MPP representing Sault Ste. Marie.
I am writing to ask you to support Ontario’s front line workers by supporting the positive changes proposed in Bill 148, the Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act. We both know that this Act has been brought forth by the Liberals in an effort to be re-elected in the upcoming election, however, it also proposes some very powerful changes to legislation which are advantageous to workers in Ontario.
All workers in Ontario should be entitled to a $15 minimum wage – no exclusions. This increase should be implemented as of January 1, 2019 and not stretched out over a longer period of time as is being promoted by the P.C.s and Chambers of Commerce.
All workers in Ontario should be entitled to join a union if they so choose and this process should be made easier. Card-based certification is the only way to be able to join a union without undue employer intimidation. Also, employers should be required to provide a complete list of employees and their contact information so that unions have accurate information when organizing a worker group.
Finally, when a newly organized worker group is negotiating their first contract they should be entitled to timely mediation and arbitration to fight against employers who refuse to bargain in good faith. We are all aware of what happened at our Sault Ste. Marie OLG offices when workers there formed a union to fight the job loss inherent in the so-called ‘modernization’ process.
Mr. Romano, you campaigned on the promise of fighting for front-line workers and I am asking you to keep that promise. Support Bill 148 and Make It Fair for all workers in Ontario!
Sincerely,
Vicky Evans,
President, CUPE Local 4148
Vice President, Sault Ste. Marie & District CUPE Council
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