A message from OPSEU, the Ontario Publice Service Employees Union

Young workers in Canada today are inheriting a big mess: 85 million dollar deficit, rising unemployment, and a crisis in our banking system. All we want is to be able to have the same opportunities as those who came before us to succeed and to be respected. Instead, it seems we are constantly told we have to settle for less.

Settling for less doesn’t get you respect on the job. It also doesn’t get you a job description, fair wages, sick days, or a legal voice in situations where you might be vulnerable to harassment. When a group of workers come together and use their combined voice to negotiate, that’s power and that’s respect.

Over the last several years, both work-study students and part-timers have approached the Ontario Public Service Employees Union with questions around working conditions, their rights as non-unionized workers, and what it means to be part of a union.  The outcome of those discussions is this organizing drive to unionize Ryerson’s part-time and work-study workers. A future of choice is possible.

OPSEU Provincial Young Workers Committee