June 11, 2001

Negotiations on Futures Implementation

Your OPAC team has consulted with representatives from offices across the province and decided to meet with management on June 20 to discuss alternative ways to implement the Futures re-organization.

We feel that management has taken this step due to the overwhelming rejection of the plan by our members. They may be appreciating how difficult it is to run this organization with very disgruntled employees. We welcome efforts to do any re-organizing in a way that values workers’ legitimate concerns.

OPSEU has not changed our view that the May 24 announcement is contrary to our collective agreement. Policy and individual grievances have been, and will continue to be, filed. At the end of the day, the plan may be halted by an arbitrator.

However, we are willing to look at a joint agreement that would ensure job security and salaries and remove the worst aspects of this plan. We are not re-opening our collective agreement. Any agreement would be an appendix to our collective agreement.

Each office has a designated link to our team and we encourage you to send in your ideas and comments. We have asked each workplace to meet this week and determine five priorities for negotiations. Please e-mail (by outside secure e-mail) these to me as soon as you have them, but not later than Friday June 15.

We caution any members who might think our battle is close to being won. This employer has shown every indication that they feel the minimum amount of effort is needed when considering our needs. We will make every attempt to reach a good agreement, but will need every member’s support.

Please continue to show your solidarity and support for our campaign. It makes a big difference, as recent events have demonstrated.

In solidarity,

Will Presley,
OPSEU Chair,

OPAC Union/Management Committee

Ontario Public Service Employees Union, 100 Lesmill Rd. Toronto, ON M3B 3P8  (416) 443-8888  www.opseu.org