Contract negotiations between the Ontario government and the Ontario Public Service Employees Union have been halted.
Two of the three bargaining tables trying to work out a new collective agreement are on hiatus, as recommended by a conciliator.
This hiatus is for all all OPSEU members who are non-corrections members.
Corrections representatives are continuing to work with the government to reach a new contract, but local OPSEU representatives tell BlackburnNews.com things are not going smoothly.
The union says the province wants to freeze wages and cut benefits for all ministry employees.
“Our teams remain available to bargain,” says OPSEU President Warren Smokey Thomas. “However, the government needs to re-think their position of wage freezes and massive concessions. The two sides aren’t just far apart…the government is on a different planet.”
Although there is a strike mandate , OPSEU says a strike is not looming and officials are hopeful a deal can be reached without any work stoppage.
The contract between the province and public service employees expired on December 31, 2014.
Union members have been holding rallies at different political offices and public places over the last several months.