Local Executive and Bargaining teams in place A new Executive was acclaimed at Local 592 on Oct. 26. Members of the executive are:
President Suzanne Kelly
Vice President Patricia Lee-Quai
Treasurer Stephen French
Trustee Andrew Smith
Security Unit Chair Mike Lepage
The Executive values the confidence you have placed in them and are hard at work to make sure your rights continue to be safeguarded in this new corporation.
Bargaining teams: The Professional, Office and Clerical Unit Bargaining team members are Suzanne Kelly, Patricia Lee-Quai, Dave Colisimo and Brenda Duncanson (alternate). This collective agreement expires Dec. 31, 2001.
The Security Unit has elected a Bargaining team consisting of Mike Lepage, Terry Thibeault and Stephen French. This collective agreement expires Apr. 30, 2002 with the ability to negotiate a wage re-opener Jan. 1,2002.
Be a Steward! Stewards perform a variety of roles within the local. A steward can be elected or appointed by the bargaining unit or work area to represent the workers in that work area.
The Steward’s Role at OPSEU:
- Organizer and Communicator
- Grievance handler
- A link to collective bargaining
- A link to the central union
- A resource for members
OPSEU has resources to help you as a steward. If you are interested in becoming a steward, contact a member of your local executive.
OPSEU ready to defend your rights through the transition
OPSEU is keeping close watch on the employer and the city through the transition.
This is what we know so far:
- The former MTHC is now the Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC)
- Toronto Housing Corporation (THC) assets, including staff, will be transferred to the new corporation as of Jan. 1, 2002.
- The City of Toronto is the sole shareholder of the TCHC. The city sets the budget and approves its business plan.
- Derek Ballantyne is the new CEO. For the past three years he was the CEO of the THC.
- The TCHC’s operating rules allow it to set up subsidiary corporations. In other words, to contract out TCHC operations. City Council was told that Social Housing Connections could be carved off as a subsidiary. We will share any information we have with you. Let us know what you find out and what the employer is
doing in your workplace. Your 592 Executive and OPSEU will work hard to make City Council accountable for maintaining this important public service within TCHC. If you have questions or information about the transition please call or e-mail your steward or a member of the Executive. We will try to respond to your inquiries in future editions
of Home Pages.
Tell us what you think
We hope to make a presentation to the Board of the TCHC in the near future. As the new corporation gets underway we want the Board to understand the important work our members do. The Board needs to get our members’ input before it makes decisions that will shape the corporation’s future.
We invite you to contribute to our presentation by answering the following question: What is the most important thing the new corporation should do to provide quality social housing? Please e-mail your answer to Megan Park, Campaigns Officer, OPSEU, at
mpark@opseu.org or phone 416-443-8888 x 207.
Help us keep in touch with you by e-mail. Send your home e-mail address to lwilliams@opseu.org and mention you are from OPSEU 592 TCHC Staff.
In Solidarity,
Your OPSEU Local 592 team
Suzanne Kelly phone: 416-397-5449
Patricia Lee-Quai: phone: 416-249-4619
Stephen French:
Home Pages is being sent to keep you informed of activities within your union and your local. You are invited to contribute to future issues. Please contact David Cox at 416-443-8888 x 314 or at dcox@opseu.org.
Authorized for Distribution by Leah Casselman, President
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