Employees will not be paid by Seneca during a strike or lockout. Employees on Parental Leave would still get EI (if eligible), but would stop receiving top up. Employees on Short Term Disability would not be paid, but employees on Long Term Disability, who receive benefits from Sun Life, would be paid. Employees who have been notified of layoff, and are still within their 90 day notice period, would stop being paid. “Strike pay is not taxable. This is your money, entrusted to the Union in the event of a strike.”
In the event of a strike or lockout, OPSEU/SEFPO provides Strike Pay to eligible members. To be eligible, you must have signed a Union Card, and perform Strike Duty (see below). Strike pay is now $450 per week, or $90 per day, for the first 3 weeks. After 3 weeks, the pay would increase to $550 per week. In addition, you would receive $125 per week ($25 per day) for each dependent under 18, or under 25 if in school. You can also claim elders who are financially dependent on you.
“Additional Strike Pay.”
Our Local also has its own strike fund. Our Strike Finance Committee will make a recommendation to a Full-Time Bargaining Unit Meeting in late August, about how much we can afford to pay, in addition to OPSEU Strike Pay. This will then be voted on by members at the meeting. In 2011, we were able to pay out an additional $250 per week.