The deal aims to advance the interests of 70 senior Crown attorneys across Ontario
The Society of United Professionals has entered into an 18-month shared services agreement with the Ontario Association of Senior Crown Attorneys (OASCA) that will see both organizations work together to advance the interests of 70 senior Crown attorneys across Ontario.
The agreement will allow the OASCA members to access the SUP’s resources and expertise, including workplace representation, member organizing and mobilization, and support for the OASCA’s governance, communication, and external relations activities, the SUP confirmed.
“The Society is committed to bringing union representation to more professionals and we see this partnership with senior Crown attorneys as an extension of that commitment,” SUP president Michelle Johnston said. “As the union of choice for professionally regulated employees in Ontario, the Society also sees this partnership as an opportunity to deepen our advocacy for access to justice.”
The SUP is a growing union of more than 8,500 professionals across Ontario, including 400 legal professionals. It also represents engineers, scientists, supervisors, and professionals of many other stripes in the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors. It was founded in 1944 by Ontario Hydro engineers seeking fair working conditions and a democratic workplace.
The SUP will also help the OASCA build its organizational capacity and work towards formalizing its relationship with its members’ employer.
“Senior crown attorneys are thrilled with the possibilities ahead,” OASCA president Michael Cantlon said. “Our members voted 98 percent in favour of authorizing us to enter into this agreement, and I am confident that we will all see the benefit of working with the SUP to advance our workplace interests.”
Currently, the OASCA represents more than 70 Crown attorneys leading the prosecution services throughout the province. It seeks to ensure its members’ fair and equitable treatment and promote a fair and effective criminal justice system.
