OPSEU president to visit striking NOSM workers

Aug 21, 2010- 11:29 AM

By: Sudbury Northern Life Staff

Warren (Smokey) Thomas, president of the Ontario Public Sector Employees Union (OPSEU) will attend a rally in support of OPSEU Local 677 members at their Laurentian University picket line Aug. 23.

Local 677 members, who work in clerical, technical and administrative positions at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine's campuses in Sudbury and Thunder Bay, have been on strike since Aug. 16.

Following the rally in Sudbury, Thomas will travel to Thunder Bay, where he will participate in a similar event.

“Our members on strike are seeking nothing more than fairness and respect,” Thomas said, in a press release. “The support they're receiving from the local community has been outstanding, and I look forward to being there as a reminder that they can count on their union to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them.”

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9 Comments

sean10 8/30/2010 3:03:15 PM - Report Abuse

Delaware, if you do not like your job, save us a life and leave the job!!! stop making unrealistic and idiotic move!!!
sean10 8/30/2010 3:02:04 PM - Report Abuse

Actually what NOSM is doing now is to let these lazy and brainless workers to strike first for a while, and negotiate their greedy demands later and eventually agree to their demands...

Why ? because they do not pay the strikers salary, and this money will be used to sustain the new contract...Everyone know this, not the workers fooled by the union!! Let them strike now and shame on them....

Also why Union keeps using the media to express their view ? asking for sympathy or telling people that you are idiot and greedy ?
Delaware 8/25/2010 4:17:43 PM - Report Abuse

Look out everyone,here come all these 'clowns' with their ridiculous comments,ie.....'clerks make $45 an hour'.Before you know it,they will be classified like the Vale workers,,,,,,overpaid,underworked,blah,blah.

Dont you people know yet?.........its ONLY the complainers on this site who are UNDERpaid and OVER worker.

Happy now,Viking,Noof,Phil.........and the rest of you
viking04ca 8/24/2010 10:24:15 PM - Report Abuse

Noofie: Civil servants [a joke] have benefits including 6 days sick leave at 100% and another 124 days at 50% and the employer is not allowed to ask for medical certificates becuase it makes the employee feel bad. Think about this....a simple clerk..$45 per hour plus benefits. Take a look at what the similar job in a bank pays. I place where we trust the workers. A clerk is less qualified than a bank teller....bank tellers get a lot less than $45 per hour.
noofie 8/24/2010 9:11:32 PM - Report Abuse

@ viking04ca
C'mon. Get serious. 130 sick days without a Dr. slip???
Unlimited maternity leave??????
And they suggest the $ come from student tuition???
You're making this up right??????

If you're not making it up for a joke, and it IS what they're asking for, toss da bums.
viking04ca 8/24/2010 6:42:42 PM - Report Abuse

OPSEU demands 130 sick days per year, unlimited maternity leave, not having to provide sick certificates for any absence. Just like the lazy, slovenly jail guards who average 70 days per year sick time. Stand up NOSM...you can do better than these lazy, non dedicate workers!!!
99gt 8/24/2010 12:00:56 AM - Report Abuse

Heaven forbid one of the 6500 guys have to cross the NOSM line to pick up their children.

SCABS i telz ya!
99gt 8/23/2010 8:39:27 PM - Report Abuse

Joy, Their strike is over...they could care less about anyone else now.
joy_3 8/21/2010 2:02:57 PM - Report Abuse

Maybe 6500 guys and gals can help them!