Bargaining
OPS Bargaining Kick-Off events
On Nov.4, members across the province showed support for
their bargaining teams with events.
Windsor
Close to 200 members from Local 135, 140 and 154 came
out to enjoy the barbecue outside the courthouse. Region 1 mobilizer Helen
Haggith reports that members were very positive, happy to wear the trillium
stickers and t-shirts.
photos
London
The barbecue outside 217 York St was a huge success, reports
Local 101 acting president Len Elliott who was joined by Region 1
Executive Board Members Ron Elliot and Laurie Nancekivell. Len Elliott says
that 217 York St. has never had that many OPSEU members participating in a
union function.
The barbecue outside 659 Exeter Road for members of
Locals 103, 107 and 108 went through 250 hotdogs, hamburgers and
sausages, reports Region 1 mobilizers Jayne Mackenzie and Steve Guylee who
were joined by Region 1 EBMs Ron Elliot and Laurie Nancekivell. NDP MPP
Irene Mathyssen came out to support the event.
photos
Guelph
The pizza lunch outside 1 Stone Road was so popular with
Local 232 members, organizers had to order more pizza, reports Region 2
mobilizers Cindy Falcao and Ingrid Ricketts and I & IT mobilizer Doug
Peebles. 200 to 300 members came out.
photos
St. Catharines
200 to 300 members with Locals 211 and 270 at 301 St.
Paul enjoyed coffee and donuts. Members were happy to take the trillium
stickers, reports Region 1 mobilizers Elaine Young and Kristy Grahame.
Niagara Falls
200 trillium stickers were handed out at the Probation
Officers Association of Ontario meeting in the city, reports Region 3
mobilizer Glenna Caldwell.
Hamilton
300 to 400 members from Locals 201, 205 and 222 came
out for the pizza lunch. The lobby at 119 King St. West was packed, reports
Region 1 mobilizers Kristy Grahame and Elaine Young, who were joined by
OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas and Region 2 EBM Eduardo Almeida .
Organizers had to order more food.
Milton
Coffee and donuts at shift change at Local 234, the
Vanier Centre for Women involved 150 – 200 members, reports Region 2
mobilizer Ingrid Ricketts and Cindy Falcao who were joined by OPSEU
President Warren (Smokey) Thomas. Lots of members signed the trillium cards.
photos
Toronto
Delicious treats were enjoyed by members at Macdonald Block
in downtown Toronto. 1st Vice-President Patty Rout and Region 5 EBM Nancy
Pridham spoke with members at the event. A manager did her best to prevent
members at the Office of Legislative Counsel from speaking with
Vice-President Rout, reports Region 5 mobilizer Noeline Ah-Hone.
Locals 504 and 555 at 5700 Yonge Street had very good
turnouts to their coffee and donuts break, reports Region 5 mobilizer Bill
Garrett.
Local 520 members at the Service Ontario counter in
downtown Toronto enthusiastically wore their blue trillium t-shirts.
Local 526, the largest local in downtown Toronto,
will be holding events in the days to come at their various worksites.
Local 528 members proudly wore their t-shirts and
stickers.
Coffee, donuts and pizza for lunch at the Toronto East
Detention Centre, Toronto West Detention Centre, Toronto Jail, Mimico
Correctional Centre and Thistletown Regional Centre were well attended,
reports Region 5 mobilizer Dan Marshall.
Region 5 mobilizer Leslie Howard reports: we had
pizza lunches and coffee and donuts at Metro East Courts, at the Probation
and Parole office at 920 Yonge St. Pizza lunches were held at 2131 Lawrence
Ave. E., 3211 Danforth Ave., 40 Wellesley St., 2500 Lawrence Ave., and 5464
Dundas St. West., trillium stickers were handed out and cards were signed
at 2201 Finch Ave. Trillium cards were 1749 Jane St.
The Nov. 3 bargaining kick off at 1201 Wilson Ave. was a
roaring success, reports Region 5 mobilizer Edie Strachan. Members from
Local 506, 536, 542 and 585 came out for the pizza lunch. The
Central/Unified and Corrections Bargaining Teams were introduced on the
podium. Bargaining Teams chairs Eric Morin (Central/Unified) and David Kerr
(Corrections) spoke as did OPSEU President Warren Smokey Thomas. Region 5
EBM David Rapaport was the MC and EBM Nancy Pridham helped out.
photos
Newmarket
A “wake up and smell the coffee” event at 465 Davis Drive
got a lot of attention from the Local 310 members, reports Region 3
mobilizer Ken Hord who was joined by Region 3 EBM Doris Middleton. “We
started at 9:30 a.m. and couldn’t get out until 1 p.m.,” says Ken.
Penetanguishene
Coffee and treats were given out to members at Local 369,
the Central North Correctional Centre. Members wore the trillium stickers
into the workplace.
Oshawa
Coffee, cakes and muffins went over very well at Locals
302, 333 and 340 reports Region 3 mobilizers Derek Bailey and Glenna
Caldwell. Region 3 EBM Claire Rowett joined the members. “A sea of blue” is
how members at Local 333 described the scene with members wearing their blue
trillium t-shirts proudly.
photos
Lindsay
Coffee and donuts at shift change at the Central East
Correctional Centre was very popular, reports Region 3 mobilizer Derek
Bailey, joined by OAD mobilizer Cindy-Hayes-Wright and Region 3 EBM Claire
Rowett. Members had a burn barrel going and wore the blue trillium t-shirts.photos
Peterborough
Coffee, cookies and other treats were enjoyed by more than
200 Local 362 members outside 300 Water Street, reports Region 3
mobilizer Derek Bailey, who was joined by Region 3 EBM Claire Rowett. OAD
mobilizer Cindy Hayes-Wright delivered coffee and donuts to Local 308
members in the courthouses, Probation and Parole and ODSP. Everyone signed
cards. photos
Kingston
Members from Local 428, 429, 430, 432, and 468
participated in coffee and donuts outside one of the government buildings.
People were coming and going throughout the hour and a half reports Region 4
mobilizer, Daryl O’Grady who was joined by Region 4 EBM Dave Lundy.
photos
Ottawa
125 members participated in the coffee and donuts at 347
Preston Street, reports Region 4 mobilizers Shelley Moody and Bryan Adderley
who were joined by Region 4 EBM Lynn Orzel. Local presidents of 406, 410,
412, 414, 424, 426 and 445 all dropped by. Local 426 president Mario
Decaire drove all the way from Hawkesbury.
photos
Sault Ste Marie, Blind River and Wawa
Coffee cards were distributed to members of Local 601,
602, 603, 605, 607, 609, 611 and 678, along with trillium cards and
stickers which were received very well, reports Region 6 mobilizer Pierre
Verhelst.
North Bay
Local 633 president Diane Gallupe delivered fair
trade coffee and donuts to 11 OPS worksites in five locals: 616, 633,
634, 635 and 669. “We gave out trillium cards and stickers and tons were
signed,” reports Diane Gallupe.
Sudbury
We had 70 members show up for our coffee and donuts, reports
Region 6 mobilizer Norm Pilon who was joined by Region 6 EBM Mandy Dumais.
Norm says they handed out the Q&A which went over very well. All of the
locals in the Sudbury area were represented: 615, 617, 618, 623, 626, ,
628, 629, 630, 632, 671, and 680. Many of the members who attended were
new faces, said Norm Pilon.
photos
Timmins
Coffee and donuts were enjoyed by Local 649 members,
reports Region 6 mobilizer Ivan Cragge, who was joined by EBM Peter Wall.
NDP MP Charlie Angus dropped by to support the event.
Kirkland Lake
Coffee and donuts were also popular with Local 644
members in Kirkland Lake, reports Region 6 mobilizer Ivan Cragge.
Hearst
Local 638 members at the MNR office wore bright
colours to show their support for their bargaining teams.
Thunder Bay
Coffee and donuts at 435 James Street and 189 Red River Road
for Locals 701, 706, 710, 713, 714, 722, 736 went over very well,
reports Region 7 mobilizers Terri Morris and Ernie Brayshaw. They were
joined by Region 7 EBMs Jamie Tocker, Sandra Snider and Brenda Rose Clapp.
The mobilizers and EBMs stopped by Locals 708 and 737 to hand out
coffee cards.
