Last week, the remaining staff at the recently closed Ontario Science Centre were laid off, pending news that they might return to work at a new location in Mississauga.
Last week, the remaining staff at the recently closed Ontario Science Centre were laid off, pending news that they might return to work at a new location in Mississauga.
On September 12, it was reported that Dexterra Group, the cleaning company hired by the province to maintain the facility, would be laying off the last of the cleaning staff.
As a result, 28 employees were notified via a letter sent to the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/SEFPO) that their contracts would end by October 31.
Martin Fischer, president of Local 549, the OPSEU division representing these workers, expressed disappointment over the abrupt closure.
However, the union had anticipated this layoff process.
“They’re prioritizing their bottom line over the impact on staff. When the Ontario government cancels the contract, all the staff are let go. They’re just trying to minimize their losses,” Fischer told INsauga.com.
Upon hearing about the layoffs, OPSEU officials also learned that there might be plans for the science centre to continue at a Mississauga facility.
“I noticed that in the initial notice, and it seemed clear that Dexterra was hinting at this, possibly based on information from the government. I can’t speak for the science centre or the provincial government since they haven’t made any official announcements yet,” Fischer said.
Fischer mentioned that if a new location—temporary or otherwise—is chosen, it would be easy to relocate since many of the exhibits have already been prepared for transport.
“Most of our exhibits are packed and can be quickly loaded onto a forklift and into a trailer. Once a new location is found, we can start moving them out,” he said.
INsauga.com reached out to the City of Mississauga for confirmation of the information relayed to OPSEU by Dexterra Group.
“We have not been informed of any decisions, but Mississauga would certainly welcome the Science Centre in our city,” a city representative said via email.
Fischer noted that despite the uncertainty around a potential relocation, a recent survey indicated that roughly two-thirds of Ontarians would prefer the facility to remain where it is.
Beyond public sentiment, Fischer is also concerned about staff and visitors, as relocating could create challenges for those accustomed to the current waterfront location in downtown Toronto.
“Mississauga can be hard to reach for many visitors. For staff, especially those living east, commuting to Mississauga could be a significant challenge if that decision is made,” he said.
As of the time of publication, there has been no official confirmation from Dexterra Group, OPSEU, or the City of Mississauga regarding the relocation of the Ontario Science Centre.
This leaves Fischer and the Ontario Science Centre workers under Local 549 feeling uncertain about their future, with Fischer stating, “It feels like we are all tenants being evicted.”
المزيد
1