OPSEU, province reach deal

The Ontario Public Service Employees Union has ratified a new collective agreement that includes a two-year wage freeze.
The agreement was ratified by OPSEU members this week after about 700 hours of bargaining.

It is consistent with the government’s fiscal plan to balance the budget by 2017-18 while protecting front-line public services such as health care and education.
The agreement will save the government $34.1 million in 2013 and $37.4 million in 2014, and an estimated $55.9 million in future years.
The agreement includes:
•reducing the entry-level starting salary in wage grids by three percent;
•eliminating termination payments upon retirement for new hires;
•restructuring short-term sickness benefits; and
•changing job security provisions.
The previous collective agreement expired Dec. 31.