Working in Solidarity

We would like to take this opportunity on behalf of our Brothers and Sisters, to say thank you to all of the Local Businesses, Driving Schools, Team Captains, Other Locals, Executive, and the Union Stewards of the USW Local 9511.  Furthermore, without the massive assistance of the Whole Team at the USW District 6 Office on Ronson Drive in Etobicoke and our USW Staff Representatives, we would not have not have been able to handle this work disruption as smoothly as we planned.  Moreover, our Membership greatly appreciate the amount of time, patience and effort that all these people gave, in order to attain a fair and equitable Collective Agreement.  Again, THANK YOU. 

 

NOTICE TO ALL MEMBERS

 

PLEASE DO NOT POST ANY COMMUNICATIONS AT WORK WITHOUT PRIOR JOINT APPROVAL FROM THE UNION AND THE EMPLOYER.
Text Box: United Steelworkers Local 9511 represents Driver Examiners and Customer Service Agents at DRIVE TEST throughout the Province of Ontario.

DRIVETEST
account login for free website hit counter code
Download a free web counter here.
Text Box:   DRIVETEST/Serco DES.    Across Ontario, hundreds of USW 9511 workers are striking outside their employer, Ontario's DriveTest driver examination centres.  Their strike is now entering its fifth month.  The issue?  The preservation of full-time jobs with benefits.  In 2003 the Conservative government in Ontario privatized driver's license testing centres.  In exchange for a mere $114 million dollars, the government awarded Serco DES Inc. (of the UK; that's right, they not only privatized a public service, but they outsourced it to a foreign country) a 10-year exclusive contract to provide driver examination tests such as road tests (both passenger vehicle and transport trucks), vision tests, and written examinations. In the press release issued at the time, then Transportation Minister Norm Sterling said that: "With this transfer, we are committed to reducing test wait times to no more than six weeks everywhere in Ontario," said Sterling. "Customer service will be improved through innovative service delivery and the government will continue to diligently safeguard the public interest." In the same press release, then Finance Minister Janet Ecker said: "Private-sector involvement in driver examination services will bring efficiency to service delivery, savings to taxpayers and will allow government to focus on what matters most to Ontarians - health care, education, the environment, and a climate for job creation." As Serco DES Inc. employees across the province now enter their seventeenth week of strike action, let's examine whether the public interest has been served, and whether this privatization has facilitated a climate for job creation. According to the press release, there were 750 MTO employees at the time of the privatization: Staffing Implications --------------------- Approximately 750 permanent and contract MTO employees are affected by the service transfer. Permanent employees may choose to transfer to Serco DES in accordance with their collective agreement. Staff who choose not to transfer will be entitled to severance packages as outlined by their collective agreement. Seven hundred and fifty (750) government employees, most of which were full-time with benefits and pension plans.  How many Serco DES employees are currently on strike?  Well, after imposing a 15% pay cut and taking away their pensions, Serco DES has whittled down its workforce to about five hundred (500).  However, they haven't stopped there.  They've turned formerly good jobs into marginal employment: 50% of Serco DES employees are now part-time with no benefits, with no guaranteed number of hours each week, and Serco DES is seeking to convert more employees into part-timers. So out of the original 750 good jobs, 250 have been lost entirely.  Of the remaining 500, the company has marginalized 250.  That means that only a third of the original jobs remain.  So, did the Conservative government succeed in creating a climate for job creation?  Clearly not.  The privatization of driver testing in Ontario has decimated hundreds of jobs in the province. Which brings us to the public interest.  With hundreds of jobs eliminated and marginalized, the province and the communities where these workers work(ed) have seen a decline in tax revenues.  Local economies will have seen a decline proportionate to the decline in spending power of these workers.  The ripple effects of job loss and job marginalization in communities are widespread.  Is that in the public interest?  Hardly. The government trumpeted reduced waiting times as a benefit of privatization.  Well, due to the shoddy way Serco DES treats its employees, they now have a four month backlog of driver's license tests. Worse, in trying to undermine the union by continuing to offer services by having unqualified managers performing the jobs of driving instructors, Serco DES is creating a burgeoning public safety issue.  Striking workers have documented drivers' tests, for transport truck drivers, which have broken just about every rule in the book.  Serco DES managers are awarding licences to drive transport trucks based on extremely sub-par drivers' tests which do not meet Ministry of Transportation standards.  When one of these improperly tested drivers kills someone on the road, who will be held responsible? So where is the Ministry of Transportation in all of this?  When the privatization occurred, it was stated that the Ontario government would: · monitor driver exam services to ensure they are delivered fairly and consistently across Ontario; · continue to establish standards and set policy; · continue to regulate fees for driver examination services; · ensure legislative compliance; · rigorously monitor and audit the new service provider's performance; and apply remedies if contract standards are not met. Where is the rigorous monitoring and auditing?  Where are they ensuring legislative compliance?  Where are the remedies for failing to meet contract standards?  As a public safety nightmare unfolds, as the provision of public services by a private, foreign company completely unravels because of the terrible way they treat their workers, the Ontario government has remained silent on the issue.  They have done nothing to address what is clearly a failed experiment in privatization of public services. Serco DES has collected testing fees for hundreds of thousands of backlogged drivers' tests.  They're sitting on a massive war chest of taxpayers' money collected for services they haven't delivered.  They're using this money to conduct a drawn-out siege against the union rather than returning to the bargaining table in good faith.  In addition to enforcing the terms of the contract (which includes penalties for failing to meet service standards), the Ontario government should be seizing these test fee monies and holding them in escrow until service at DriveTest centres resumes. Do you want to help make a difference?  Don't cross the picket lines.  Tell your 16-year-old that by supporting the striking USW 9511 DriveTest workers, they're fighting for their own future.  We need to fight the marginalization of jobs everywhere, else there'll be no decent jobs in the future for today's teenagers who are having to wait to get their first driver's license. Contact Jim Bradley, the Minister of Transportation, and demand that he take action against Serco DES for the deplorable way they've treated their workers and for failing to live up to the terms of their contract. Contact Dalton McGuinty, Ontario's Premier, and tell him what a travesty this experiment in privatization of government services has become. Tell Serco DES that their deplorable treatment of workers is not what Ontario taxpayers signed on for, and that their union-busting "Q&A Regarding Returning to Work During the Strike" is unethical and disgusting.  Send a message to their employee.questions@drivetest.ca address telling them that instead District 6: Strike Assistance FundText Box: The Members of USW Local 9511 Would like to say TO ALL OUR SUPPORTERS “THANK YOU” “THANK YOU” “THANK YOU” Text Box: In Memory of Robert “Bobby” Bishop

United Steelworkers Local 9511/DRIVETEST
Text Box: Text Box: “We are determined to win collective agreement language that gives us greater protections and a fairer system for lay-off and recall.   Our members work very hard to provide great service to the general public and in return we expect some dignity, respect and some basic job protections.” Text Box: "I believe the public should be concerned about the loss of experience and expertise that is occurring under the current Serco model of operation. If extracting profit from the public is the only criteria in running this public service, it will ultimately make our roads much less safe." Text Box: USW Local 9511 Strike “Voice Forum” Click Here “It is clear that DRIVETEST puts the almighty dollar above happy and productive employees; always talking about the level of service but adding little to the environment that cultivates productivity and excellence in service delivery.  It is unfortunate that Serco’s greed and arrogance will now brim over into the public service and interfere with everyone’s ability to get and renew their driver’s license. They have clearly told us that they plan to reduce our good full time jobs and have no intention of giving part-time employees minimum hours to ensure a livable wage.  They are obviously and steadfastly driven by creating meager paychecks for workers who are disposable in the colder months and workhorses in the hotter ones.” “We did not pick this fight but neither can we afford to hide from it.  If we don’t fight now…if we don’t stand strong…then divided we must surely beg.  Together we will stand on the picket line and together we will raise one strong collective voice…the voice of the average worker…the fight for fair jobs and job security year round.” Text Box: DRIVETEST LOCAL 9511 NEWS, CLICK YOUR STORY BELOW Tentative Ratification Results, Dec. 31, 2009 IMPORTANT Bargaining Un-Date, Dec. 22,09 REVISED Voting Schedule For Bargaining Unit Members, Dec. 22, 2009 Important Bargaining Up-Date, December 18, 2009 Bargaining Update, December 08 and 10, 2009 Important Message to All Striking Employees of Serco DES. Employers Final Offer, November 03, 2009 Important Bargaining Up-date, Nov.02,09 Important Voting Protocol For The North, Nov.01,09 Kitchener DRIVETEST, Information Picket Rally, November 03, 2009 Peterborough DRIVETEST, Information Picket Rally, November 06, 2009 Bargaining Up-Date, October 30, 2009 Bargaining Update, October 15, 2009 Luncheon Benefit in Honour of Robert “Bobby” Bishop In Memory of Robert “Bobby” Bishop Member who articulates in music, his view of our work disruption. A must listen... Bargaining Update, October 10, 2009 Queen’s Park Rally and Press Release, September 30, 2009 Work Disruption Update, September, 24, 2009 United Steelworkers Local 9511 DRIVETEST Picture Gallery Steelworkers Toronto Area Council Benefit For USW Local 9511 Strike Workers Address your concerns (Contact Phone List) Bargaining Update, September 13, 2009 Serco, No Stranger to Strikes, September 04, 2009 Day 10/11 of Strike, In Perspective Strike Update, September 04, 2009 Bargaining Committee Response to Mr. Dalglish, Message to Employees August 30, 2009 UPDATE September 10, 2009, Serco DES Inc. Benefit Plan September, 03, 2009 USW Local 9511 Strike “Voice Forum” Employees Have Rights, August, 30, 2009 DRIVETEST, Public Q & A, August 26, 2009 Bargaining Clarification and Update, August 27, 2009 Mission Statement from our USW Director, Wayne Fraser to Ministry of Text Box: Text Box: United Steelworkers Local 9511 DRIVETEST Picture Gallery (Click Below) http://local9511info.viviti.com/ Text Box: USW Local 9511 Strike “Voice Forum” Click Here Text Box: DRIVING NEWS, CLICK YOUR STORY BELOW The Biggest Company You’ve Never Heard Of DriveTest workers seek support Four + months? Time to end DriveTest Strike MPP Seeks to Curb DriveTest Operator Liberals won’t back bill to end DriveTest strike End the DRIVETEST Strike, MPP, Jim Wilson DRIVETEST Strike Enters Month 3 One Person Dies Every Three Hours on Canada’s Roadways Klees: DriveTest Strike (part two) DriveTest Strike Drags On Klees: Time To End Strike At DriveTest Centres (needs to get his facts straight) Future Truckers Protest Serco DRIVETEST Strike Denying Your Road Test Is Denying Your Right To A Licence Strike Leaves Drivers In Neutral End to strike demanded Strike Felt at Bus Stops DriveTest Centres Remain Closed, Workers rally at Queen’s Park Man Charged in DriveTest Scam Strike taking toll on training firms DriveTest strike a sign of hard times New Drivers Worry About Strike Backlog DriveTest Employees Stage Toronto Protest Record Man; Strike Continues for Ontario Driver Examiners Why We Say Serco Will Not Talk To Us PSAC Union MTO Considering Union Proposal September 01, 2009 Woman fails road-test; boyfriend allegedly beats Examiner Would-Be Drivers shop for easy road tests Ontario test-drives the testers Text Box: DISTRICT 6 STRIKE ASSISTANCE FUND At the general membership meeting held in Toronto on December 7th 2006 there was discussion of joining the District 6 Strike Assistance Fund. The fund was created to provide additional strike assistance when members participating engaged in a legal strike. At such time a motion was put forth to the members in attendance and passed. The membership agreed to voluntarily participate in the program and that USW Local 9511 would contribute 0.1% of membership dues towards this fund. To date approximately 66% of United Steelworkers Locals have decided to participate. The fund was designed to pay out weekly benefits to members engaged in strike activity. The benefit amount payable was dependent on when the fund reached certain levels. At $2.5 million dollars it would pay $25.00 a week per employee At $5 million dollars it would pay $50.00 a week per employee At $7.5 million dollars it would pay $75.00 a week per employee At $10 million dollars it would pay $100.00 a week per employee After the first anniversary of its establishment, we have now surpassed the $2.5 million dollar mark. The fund will now start paying out a supplementary strike assistance of $25.00 to our members if engaged in strike activity as required by the local. Text Box: Media Release: USW Local 9511/DRIVETEST Tentative Ratification Results, December 31st, 2009