You decide: OPSEU calls for a vote
OPSEU believes you should have the right to choose the union that will represent you. You will soon have that choice because of the transfer of Toronto Housing Company (THC), its employees and its assets to Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC).
That transfer formally happens Jan. 1, 2002.
All of your rights and entitlements remain the same on Jan. 1 as before. Your collective agreement stays in place and OPSEU will continue to represent TCHC Professional, Office and Clerical staff as well as Security staff.
However, in the months following the transfer, we expect the Ontario Labour Relations Board to order a vote between OPSEU Local 592 and CUPE Local 79 to determine which union represents TCHC Professional, Office and Clerical staff.
Why? Because both OPSEU 592 and CUPE 79 represent similar employees doing similar work.
We support a vote. We’ll be asking TCHC Professional, Office and Clerical staff to vote OPSEU.
There is no confusion, however, about who should represent security and maintenance staff. OPSEU should continue to represent the Security unit since THC doesn’t have security employees. And CUPE should continue to represent maintenance personnel as OPSEU doesn’t represent maintenance staff. Neither needs to vote.
CUPE 79 is arguing that since TCHC is wholly owned by the City, CUPE automatically represents employees of both TCHC and THC. This means you won’t get to vote.
We don’t believe CUPE will have any success with its arguments.
OPSEU Local 592 is all about housing
Working to make it better
Our collective agreement is a good one, but we are working to strengthen it even more. Suzanne Kelly, President of Local 592, says TCHC Professional Office and Clerical Unit have an agreement that compares favourably with the agreement in CUPE 79.
“OPSEU is offering a fair deal to all TCHC employees, and OPSEU understands the issues, having supported Local 592 through the social housing download.
”The other advantage with OPSEU is that our agreement is tailored to housing and not to 20,000 unrelated city staff, “ she said. “CUPE’s local is a huge one where our views may not be heard.”
Notice to Bargain filed by OPSEU
OPSEU has filed notice to bargain in both the Professional Office and Clerical and Security bargaining units. The current collective agreement will cover all OPSEU members until a new agreement is signed. For more information on bargaining, please contact a member of your bargaining team (below) or your executive (listed at the
end of this document).
Professional, Office and Clerical Unit Bargaining Team: Suzanne Kelly, Patricia Lee-Quai, Dave Colisimo and Brenda Duncanson (alternate).
Security Unit Bargaining Team: Mike Lepage, Terry Thibeault and Stephen French.
Who will represent you? Questions and Answers
Q: Will the Professional, Office and Clerical staff become part of CUPE or stay with OPSEU?
A: CUPE says the city is the employer which would make Locals 79 and 416 the bargaining agent – but in reality the City is selling THC to TCHC. Ultimately the Labour Board will decide the process of selecting your bargaining agent. OPSEU will strongly argue – and we believe we will be successful – that there should be a vote. We want you to be
able to decide whether you want to stay with OPSEU or join another union.
Q: How does OPSEU’s collective agreement compare to that of CUPE 79?
A: It’s difficult to compare wage rates, because our categories are so different, but on balance OPSEU rates appear higher. Our agreement is better adapted to the specific needs of a housing unit rather than the broad scope of a city-wide unit. Finally, no matter who is the bargaining agent, we will negotiate a new agreement with input from all
members of the new unit.
Q: What is the difference then?
A: Our executive under OPSEU would continue to be made up of housing staff, rather than being a small part of a huge CUPE Local. Your collective agreement would better reflect your concerns.
Q: What about the Security Unit?
A: The Security unit has no CUPE counterpart, and OPSEU has clear successor rights. A vote should not be needed.
Q: If the Professional, Clerical and Office Unit votes to stay with OPSEU, what will happen to my seniority?
A: OPSEU won’t discriminate between CUPE and OPSEU members with respect to seniority. We would want the same thing for our members if they were absorbed by another local. We think this is fair to everyone. Would CUPE offer the same deal to our members?
Q: What resources is OPSEU committing to our local?
A: OPSEU has assigned a staff team to be available to the Local 592 executive as a resource. We are going to meetings at the city level, and the employer’s Town Hall Meetings, on behalf of our members. Also, we are engaged in the campaign for social housing. OPSEU is behind Local 592 and continues to defend your rights in the workplace.
Q: When this goes before the Labour Board, will we still be bargaining a new contract?
A: If this goes to the Labour Board before a new Collective Agreement is signed, bargaining is suspended until the bargaining agent is decided. A new Notice to Bargain must be filed by the union who will represent you.
Q: What if I am approached to join another Union?
A: This should not be happening until the Labour Board orders a vote; please inform a member of your executive. Similarly, our union members should not approach members of any other union to join OPSEU until a vote is ordered.
More Questions:
If you have other 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. 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: phone: 416-494-7327
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 Also visit OPSEU’s web site at http://www.opseu.org for information about the union’s activities.
Authorized for Distribution by Leah Casselman, President
