Your support is crucial as contract talks start in earnest

If you work at the Ontario Property Assessment Corporation, you’ve probably read or heard the claims that OPAC is "striving for greatness," not just as a provider of assessment services, but as an employer.

Of course, we all want it to be true. So far, though, we’ve all felt OPAC’s missteps on the road to greatness:

• continued discrimination against "contract employees" (including some with more than three years’ service);
• the end of compressed work weeks;
• shorter coffee breaks,
• a ridiculous attempt at a dress code, and
• (most of all) a short-sighted move to a new pension plan – without asking how we felt about it.

Of course, there has been no shortage of good intentions. The Employer promised an Employee Assistance Program (see below). The Employer promised consultation on benefits. Ten months later, nothing has happened.

These and other workplace problems are on the agenda as your OPSEU negotiating team heads to the bargaining table Nov. 1.

Back at the table Nov. 1

Last month, we met with the Employer bargaining team to set out the mechanics of bargaining and book meeting dates. We have blocked off seven multi-day sessions between now and March 31, 2000. That’s a long time from now; we hope to have a new contract before then.

The divestment from the Ontario Public Service to OPAC wiped out our old collective agreement. Thanks to the job security language we fought for in the OPS contract, we were able to win job offers for all OPSEU members and some basic assurances on wages and working conditions.

Those assurances are not a contract. To get a real contract, with fair wages and hard-and-fast language on job security, pensions, vacation, sick leave, benefits, hours of work, and other key issues, we’ll need your support.

Negotiations do not happen only at the bargaining table. With your support, we’ll get the strong contract we deserve; without it, we won’t. It’s as simple as that.

We’ve built up a powerful network of workplace contacts to keep everyone informed about goings-on at the table. At different times, we may call for your support. That might mean attending a meeting, wearing a button, joining a lobby, signing a petition, or taking other action. Whatever happens, stay in touch and stay involved – and keep your co-workers involved, too. That way, we all win.

Smart employers set up assistance programs

It is a documented fact that Employee Assistance Programs are a great help to employees in crisis. They get the help they need, and they get it fast. EAPs also help employers, too. That’s because employees who have a way to deal with personal problems early are much more productive than those who don’t.

In the Region of Peel (where OPAC chair Emil Kolb runs things), they advertise up to five free, and 100 per cent anonymous, confidential counseling sessions for any employee or family member in crisis.

Here at OPAC, Human Resources has been asked to make good on the OPAC Board’s EAP promise.

Their response when we asked? "It’s not a priority."

When pressed further, they explained it would cost money (it doesn’t, because of the increased productivity).

Then they offered to provide ad hoc help. In other words, "Got a personal crisis? Go see your manager."

They said that staff who were hesitant about speaking to managers could call Human Resources directly. Think about it: how many employees will go to HR about personal problems when the HR people are the same ones who talk to their manager about "personal issues" like promotions and dismissal? Not many.

It’s time this employer joined the thousands who have anonymous, confidential Employee Assistance Programs.

Help real people right now… the United Way.

Social services in Ontario continue to implode. In the face of cuts in government spending for key services, real people are falling through the cracks. It’s not enough to oppose cuts to services for people with mental illness, for victims of domestic abuse, for children in poverty, and for others in need. If we care about a caring society, we have to help real people right now.

OPSEU and the labour movement across Canada support the United Way as a means to support real people. Please give generously. For more information, or to help out, contact OPSEU bargaining team member Bill Henry in the Barrie RAO.

Pension plans

When OPAC transferred us from the OPSEU Pension Trust to the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System, they left one thing behind: our money.

For all of us who transferred in from the OPS, this means our pensions are split in two. When we retire, we will receive two cheques. The OPT cheque will be based only on our OPT years, adjusted for inflation, but not for any real wage gains during our OMERS years. Net result? A smaller pension.

OPAC did this without asking our permission. They saw OMERS as a chance to pay less, at least for now, and they jumped at it.

On Aug. 30, your OPSEU representative met with representatives from OPAC and all three pension plans: the OPT, OMERS, and the Ontario Pension Board (representing managers). We were there to talk about moving our OPT money over to OMERS.

We learned one thing from the meeting: unless OPAC takes the initiative, our OPT money will stay right where it is.

Our loss of pension income is a problem OPAC created; it’s OPAC’s duty to fix it.

We’ll be talking – at the bargaining table.

Keep in touch!

Over the last year, over 100 OPSEU members in OPAC offices across Ontario have served as contact people to keep the lines of communication open between members and the elected Assessment Transition Team. The system has worked well. The new bargaining team will communicate the same way. Got a question? Ask your local contact. Haven’t got a local contact? Get in touch with your nearest bargaining team member:

Will Presley, Chair, Local 633, North Bay
(705) 499-2213 (cell)  wpresley@opseu.org

Jennifer Reid, Vice-Chair, Local 105, London
(519) 657-4870 (h)  (519) 681-0050 (w)

Peter Thompson, Local 133, Windsor
(519) 969-1801 (h)  (519) 254-3771 x 219 (w)

Bill Henry, Local 322, Barrie
(705) 728-3480 (h)-800-461-4230 x 256 (w)
whenry@interhop.net

Larry Deschenes, Local 463, Kingston
(613) 531-8334 (h) (613) 545-4475 (w)
Local463opseu@email.com

Tina Faibish, Local 534, Toronto
(416) 691-0223 (h)  (416) 327-1742 (w)

Peter Thachuk, Local 534, Toronto
(416) 266-8830 (h)  (416) 327-1690 (w)

The team is assisted in bargaining by OPSEU Senior Negotiator Brian Gould.

Ontario Public Service Employees Union
100 Lesmill Road, Toronto, Ontario M3B 3P8
web site: www.opseu.org e-mail: opseu@opseu.org

Original authorized for distribution by Leah Casselman, president.

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