Intimidation? Harassment? File a grievance!
POSO management has been engaged in a campaign of harassment and intimidation against OPSEU stewards at POSO branches who are involved in the anti-privatization campaign on their own time.
OPSEU members have union rights for which we have fought for decades. Members have the right to stand on the sidewalk and provide union information to passers-by in a non-threatening and non-delaying way. When speaking out or lobbying the public or MPPs, you should make clear you are engaged in union activity. You
should never discuss your specific job duties.
Members cannot lobby customers in the branch, on work time, or use customer lists.
If you’re off work, that’s different. You have the right to be involved in the activities of your union under the Crown Employees Collective Bargaining Act (CECBA). That includes making the union’s viewpoint on privatization known to the public. If you run into any disciplinary actions or harassment based on your union
activities, inform your local president and/or your staff rep immediately.
The real question for POSO managers is: why are you so quick to tell staff (and customers) they can’t protest the sale? What’s in it for you? Is there a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow if POSO is sold? If so, shame on you for selling out the customers and the taxpayers of this province.
Management is not permitted to harass or intimidate union members or officers who are fighting on their own time to save their jobs.
As one customer said - we don’t know if our efforts to save POSO will be successful. But we know one thing: If we do nothing, you can guarantee the sale will go through and you can virtually guarantee that the branches will close in three years.
The customers are counting on us: We cannot allow the government to eliminate the consumer’s choice to deal with a publicly-owned, unionized bank that invests in public services.
OPSEU members and customers show support
In August, OPSEU members and POSO customers in Region 1 made some headlines and news broadcasts with protests at branches in Windsor, Seaforth, St. Mary’s and Woodstock.
We are keeping POSO management guessing as to when the next protest will take place. We’re working with a network of customers who have contacted us to work together to fend off the sale. A customer-led petition campaign will also be in full swing until the Legislature sits.
OPSEU President Leah Casselman has written to the opposition leaders asking them for their full support. We await their response, which will be published on the web.
See the POSO anti-privatization campaign on the OPSEU web site for more things to do to keep POSO public.
The POSO Post is sent to keep you informed of news from your Union and issues of concern to you at your workplace. Please contact David Cox at 416-268-7376 x 314 or at dcox@opseu.org , or see OPSEU’s web site at http://www.opseu.org/campaign/posoindex.htm
Authorized for Distribution: Leah Casselman, President
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