...and with good reason, the government is screwing them out of vacation and stat holiday pay. Why? Because they don't have to pay them according to the Employment Standards Act, even though it has been past practise to do so. Basically the government has broken it's own contract with these student workers. The students signed a contract before starting employment at the parks that they would receive vacation and holiday pay, as they have done so in the past, but the government recently "discovered" that they do not qualify for them as the Crown is exempt from provisions under the Act.

Follow up:

The student workers have taken a stance and are now protesting at the parks, stopping visitors at the gates. These pickets are justified in my opinion as the government has reneged on it's own deal leaving the students awestruck. Pickets were scheduled at Wheatley Provincial Park, Pinery Provincial Park, Algonquin Provincial Park and Sibbald Provincial Park. The workers are part of Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), and I would hope that the union would file a formal complaint with the labour board and investigate any possible legal action.

From another article

Ganley said 73 per cent of OPSEU-employed students make $11.10 per hour -- $1.60 more than minimum wage.

What is the point of saying that? Wow, a whole buck sixty, I guess they should be happy to be making the big bucks eh Ganley? Why throw that in there, is it to somehow justify you flaking out on a deal? Smoke and mirrors? It might have worked with the auto workers when they were forced to tell the world their wages but come on, isn't this a bit of a stretch? Making it sound as if making $11.10 an hour somehow balances off the fact that you screwed up. The "rich kids" should be thankful to be making the big money, ahh, I see how it goes. Pfft

I am absolutely offended at how the government is attacking workers in this province and in this country. It is high time that workers unite and stand up to these morons and tell them we wont take it anymore. If they are exempt from paying these workers vacation and holiday pay, that is one thing but to snatch it away from them after signing a contract, it is a resounding slap in the face to the workers and to the union. I'd be shocked if the union doesn't pursue this issue further.

What does this say about a government when they don't even know the Employment Standards Act? We have a bunch of imbeciles sitting in Queens Park, and people love them. It just makes zero sense how people can justify voting for these clowns. So I say good for the students, stand up for what is right, don't back down. Unbelievable, truly unbelievable.

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