March 19, 2015 Mr. Lionel Gauvin Vice-président Ontario et

March 19, 2015
Mr. Lionel Gauvin
Vice-président Ontario et directeur général FCPO
Desjardins, Fédération des Caisses populaires de l’Ontario
214, chemin Montréal, suite 300
Ottawa, Ontario, K1L 8L8
Dear Mr. Gauvin:
OPSEU represents 35,000 frontline Ministry (OPS) employees who work directly for the Ontario
government. They are currently in bargaining with the employer, the Ontario Government, for a new
contract. The previous agreement expired December 31, 2014.
These negotiations began in October 2014, and are continuing. Despite our intention to seek a
negotiated settlement at the bargaining table, we find ourselves facing an employer who is adamant in
obtaining sweeping concessions and wage freezes.
Right now, the government has forced negotiations on Essential and Emergency Service Agreements,
which is a prelude to a legal strike or lockout. If a strike or lockout occurs, these OPSEU members will be
on the picket lines without their regular employment earnings during the work stoppage.
We have many members who have loans with branches of your company. We are advising them that if
their personal circumstances require, they should seek to reach an accommodation directly with your
branch managers for a temporary deferral of payments on loans.
It is my hope that your organization will honour our many members’ patronage with your co-operation,
so that individuals and their families will not face undue hardship.
If you require further information or clarification about the situation, please contact me using the
information below.
Yours sincerely,
Original signed by:
Eduardo (Eddy) Almeida
1st Vice-President/Treasurer
Ontario Public Service Employees Union
1-800-268-7376
[email protected]
Ontario Public Service Employees Union • 100 Lesmill Rd., Toronto, Ontario M3B 3P8
Syndicat des employés de la fonction publique de l’Ontario • 100, rue Lesmill, Toronto (Ontario) M3B 3P8