On Feb. 18, 2014, the provincial Liberal government announced that effective Jan. 1, 2017, the eligibility criteria for post-retirement benefits were changing for retired public service employees. In addition, retirees will have to pay half of the cost for the benefits. This includes LCBO employees and others in the OPSEU Pension Trust or the Public Service Pension Plan if they retire on or after Jan. 1, 2017. Benefit premiums from that day forward will be funded on a 50-50 basis, with the government paying half the premium and the retiree paying the other half.
OPSEU president Warren (Smokey) Thomas said that hundreds of OPSEU members have since responded by filing grievances. “Rest assured, we’re using every single resource we have to fight this attack by the employer,” said Thomas.
In an Arbitrator’s decision, the Association of Law Officers of the Crown (ALOC) and the Ontario Crown Attorneys’ Association (OCAA) have successfully delayed the implementation of the changes until at least the next round of negotiations in 2017.
Your Central Employee Relations Committee met on Dec. 2, 2015 and the employer confirmed it intends to go ahead with the planned changes in 2017.
Currently, OPSEU is continuing to work with its legal counsel to develop the best strategy. OPSEU is reminding its members to be making retirement plans based on what is known now as opposed to delaying making personal decisions because of what might happen in the future.
Any further details will be posted as they become available.