OPSEU Local 506
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
July 9, 2010
Dear Mayor Krantz:
My name is Edie Strachan and I am a Transportation Enforcement Officer employed by the Ministry of Transportation. I also serve as Union President of OPSEU Local 506 representing the largest number of Transportation Enforcement Officers in the province of Ontario.
It has come to my attention that you are hosting a Mayor’s Reception at the Ontario Truck Driving Championships which includes the Ministry of Transportation’s NSC Challenge 2010.
What you don’t know is that the Ministry of Transportation recently hired an exorbitantly priced consultant – a specialist in their field - to complete an analysis of our jobs. After several months of ‘consultation’ (heavily influenced by the employer) the consultant presented a critically flawed report.
The report is an obvious and blatant attack by the employer on the value of our jobs and the public services we provide to keep Ontario roads safe. The employer stands by the findings of the report and has indicated to officers province wide that the report ‘is what it is’ and that we need to accept it and move on.
The critically flawed report and the employer’s decision to stand by the findings of the report has sparked already simmering labour relations issues that are on the verge of crisis and morale amongst officers has collapsed to an even further all time low.
Although the employer fails to recognize the importance of the work we perform in keeping Ontarians safe (including the failure to recognize the importance of our CVSA certification), they had the audacity to invite us to participate in the NSC Challenge 2010 so they can advertise and show the public, the commercial motor industry and their partners in road safety across North America about what a glorious program we have in Ontario and how content its officers are. To make matters worse, they are spending significant sums of taxpayer dollars to do so. This is, at best, an insult.
Not a single officer assigned to Halton Region participated in NSC Challenge 2010 and over 95% of our officers in Central Region boycotted as a statement of anger to our employer. This boycott was supported by an overwhelming majority of officers across Ontario.
As the President of OPSEU Local 506 and on behalf of the Officers of Halton Region I would ask that you rethink attending this initiative as a show of support for the front line officers of Halton Region and Ontario. Should you feel you must attend the function due to your prior commitment I ask that you speak to senior management in attendance at the “event” and the reasons behind our boycott. As a show of support for the officers that both work and many who live within the Halton area we would appreciate your support in raising our issues or by declining to attend this staged photo opportunity.
Sincerely,
Edie Strachan
President, OPSEU Local 506
cc: Kathleen Wynne, Minister of Transportation
Steve Keppler, Interim Executive Director CVSA
Milton Champion
Mohawk Racetrack
Ontario Trucking Association
Ontario Trucking News
Motoring 2010
Milton Today
Dear Mayor Krantz:
My name is Edie Strachan and I am a Transportation Enforcement Officer employed by the Ministry of Transportation. I also serve as Union President of OPSEU Local 506 representing the largest number of Transportation Enforcement Officers in the province of Ontario.
It has come to my attention that you are hosting a Mayor’s Reception at the Ontario Truck Driving Championships which includes the Ministry of Transportation’s NSC Challenge 2010.
What you don’t know is that the Ministry of Transportation recently hired an exorbitantly priced consultant – a specialist in their field - to complete an analysis of our jobs. After several months of ‘consultation’ (heavily influenced by the employer) the consultant presented a critically flawed report.
The report is an obvious and blatant attack by the employer on the value of our jobs and the public services we provide to keep Ontario roads safe. The employer stands by the findings of the report and has indicated to officers province wide that the report ‘is what it is’ and that we need to accept it and move on.
The critically flawed report and the employer’s decision to stand by the findings of the report has sparked already simmering labour relations issues that are on the verge of crisis and morale amongst officers has collapsed to an even further all time low.
Although the employer fails to recognize the importance of the work we perform in keeping Ontarians safe (including the failure to recognize the importance of our CVSA certification), they had the audacity to invite us to participate in the NSC Challenge 2010 so they can advertise and show the public, the commercial motor industry and their partners in road safety across North America about what a glorious program we have in Ontario and how content its officers are. To make matters worse, they are spending significant sums of taxpayer dollars to do so. This is, at best, an insult.
Not a single officer assigned to Halton Region participated in NSC Challenge 2010 and over 95% of our officers in Central Region boycotted as a statement of anger to our employer. This boycott was supported by an overwhelming majority of officers across Ontario.
As the President of OPSEU Local 506 and on behalf of the Officers of Halton Region I would ask that you rethink attending this initiative as a show of support for the front line officers of Halton Region and Ontario. Should you feel you must attend the function due to your prior commitment I ask that you speak to senior management in attendance at the “event” and the reasons behind our boycott. As a show of support for the officers that both work and many who live within the Halton area we would appreciate your support in raising our issues or by declining to attend this staged photo opportunity.
Sincerely,
Edie Strachan
President, OPSEU Local 506
cc: Kathleen Wynne, Minister of Transportation
Steve Keppler, Interim Executive Director CVSA
Milton Champion
Mohawk Racetrack
Ontario Trucking Association
Ontario Trucking News
Motoring 2010
Milton Today
