One year after…

It’s been a year since we moved from the Ministry of Finance to the Ontario Property Assessment Corporation.

The year has seen us retain most of our wages and benefits due to the strong OPS collective agreement. It has also seen us reorganize and fight to bargain our own contract.

In a year of incredible stress, OPAC workers have delivered exceptional service to our clients. OPAC management often points out how important we are, and how they want OPAC to be a great employer. They just won’t say it at the bargaining table.

At the table, the focus is going to be money. It is often a fight to get management to agree that our current conditions are not excessively generous.

Nevertheless, we are proceeding well towards our first contract. Our timeline is to complete bargaining in March of 2000. We still believe we will be able to make that goal.

However, as time moves on we will be focusing on issues that will cost money. Every sign is that the employer will resist spending the money to adequately compensate this dedicated workforce.

If bargaining hits roadblocks, you’ll know immediately. We’ll be talking to you about how you can help achieve the contract we deserve.

Until then, have a healthy and happy holiday!

Will Presley,
Bargaining Team Chair,
on behalf of Jennifer, Larry, Tina, Bill and the two Peters….

Employer must allow for union representation

Recently some OPAC managers have denied employees their right to a union representative at disciplinary meetings. This is very wrong. No member should accept this kind of treatment.

While we wait for a contract that ensures Management recognizes our right to union representation, every member can rely on the Ontario Labour Relations Act (OLRA).

The OLRA guarantees union members rights to representation. If you, or another member, are asked to take part in a meeting where discipline may be an issue, see your steward! If you feel you must take part in such a meeting, make sure that you document Management’s refusal to allow you to have representation. Such a denial may lead to the meeting being declared null and void.

1. An Employee Assistance Program: You promised it last year!
2. My proper pension entitlement: Why didn’t you ask before you moved me to OMERS?
3. Time-off for my union representative to work for me!
4. A workstation for my computer!
5. The right to dress myself: it works every other day, why not at work?
6. A fair wage increase: it has been years and years…things keep going up and up…
7. A collective agreement to call my own!
8. Overtime for extra hours.
9. My Compressed Work Week agreement back.
10. A regular job – not a contract that is extended, and extended, and…

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. Your bargaining team communicates 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)
1-800-461-4230 x 256 (w)
E: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 and Researcher Ruth Hamilton.

Original authorized for distribution by Leah Casselman, president.

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