Extension Agreement Reached with OPSEU Unified Bargaining Unit

The government of Ontario and the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) have ratified a four-year extension agreement for the Unified Bargaining Unit.

This extension agreement covers issues applicable to the Unified Bargaining Unit, with a four-year term of January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2021. It includes modest wage increases that are fair and reasonable to employees and align with current economic and labour market trends.

“I am pleased we have ratified an extension agreement with OPSEU’s Unified Bargaining Unit. Through this agreement, the government is continuing to take a balanced approach to managing compensation in the provincial public sector. Our government values the hard work of our public service employees, and our shared commitment to delivering high-quality programs and services while managing public resources responsibly.” — Liz Sandals, President of the Treasury Board

This negotiated outcome reflects a strong and positive relationship between the parties. The greater labour stability achieved through this extension agreement will enable the province to maintain the flexible and high-performing public service workforce it needs to deliver effectively and efficiently on the things that matter most to the people of Ontario.

It is disappointing that the Correctional Bargaining Unit has rejected the tentative extension agreement recently negotiated with the province. The government will continue to work with the Correctional Bargaining Unit on issues specific to that group.

QUICK FACTS

  • OPSEU is the largest union in the Ontario Public Service, representing approximately 35,000 employees.
  • The OPSEU Unified Bargaining Unit includes employees who work in a wide variety of jobs such as administrative staff, enforcement officers, social workers, meat inspectors and IT systems officers.
  • The OPSEU Correctional Bargaining Unit includes positions responsible for the security, control, supervision, care and rehabilitation of adult offenders and young offenders in provincial correctional facilities.
  • Recent amendments to the Crown Employees Collective Bargaining Act, 1993 provide the OPSEU Correctional Bargaining Unit the right to negotiate a separate collective agreement from the OPSEU Unified Bargaining Unit.
  • The current OPSEU Collective Agreement expires on December 31, 2017.
  • The Treasury Board Secretariat is responsible for collective bargaining with all Ontario Public Service bargaining agents.