April 19, 2008

Following the tribute to Local 369 Vice-President Steve Timmins, who passed away the previous evening, delegates continued Day 3 by debating resolutions and constitutional amendments.

Debates were put on hold for the presentation of the Honorary Life Members Awards. Jerry Chaykowsky, Pauline Tapping and Art Lane were this year’s recipients, and all gave passionate, heart-felt and often humorous speeches on receiving their awards.

After lunch, debate resumed on a call for OPSEU to lobby the Ontario government to conduct a full public inquiry into hate crimes and death threats at Toronto-area correctional facilities. The sometimes emotional debate was lengthy, and the resolution passed unanimously. A boycott on Coca-Cola was also endorsed by the delegates.

Delegates also debated hiring an additional OPSEU Health and Safety Officer, but the debate was stopped after quorum was lost after 3 p.m.

Smokey and Patty thanked the delegates for all their hard work over the three days, and wished them well until the 2009 Convention.

April 18, 2008

Full day for Convention delegates

Delegates spent Day 2 of the OPSEU Convention debating resolutions and constitutional amendments, learned about bad trade legislation and cheered on the day’s awards winners.

On the floor in the morning were debates on disclosure of Executive Board campaign finances, adding equity seats to the Executive Board and amending the constitution to enshrine Equity Liaison officers and Health and Safety officers into Local Executive Committees. All these amendments and resolutions were defeated. 

Larry Brown, Secretary-Treasurer of NUPGE, spoke to the delegates before lunch, explaining about the Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA), a trade agreement signed between British Columbia and Alberta. Brown explained that the agreement, designed by the two governments to “eliminate provincial trade barriers,” is actually a measure that will restrict governments from making social policy if it prevents private business from making a profit. Signed without public consultation, Brown compared the legislation to a vampire. “This legislation would go up in smoke if it was exposed to the light of day.”

Brown also spoke to issue of withholding dues from the Canadian Labour Congress over raiding violations by other unions.

After lunch was the first-ever presentation of the Leah Casselman Award. This award, for exemplifying the spirit of mobilizing to win, was presented to the six developmental services locals who were on strike last year. Dozens of members from these locals were called up on stage and introduced during a long and sustained standing ovation. Smokey Thomas congratulated the local presidents and their members for their courage and tenacity in the face of enormous odds.

Immediately following this award was the presentation of the Stanley H. Knowles Humanitarian Award. Guest presenter Stephen Lewis profusely thanked OPSEU for their extreme generosity in support of the Stephen Lewis Foundation through the Live and Let Live Fund. He then began his presentation to this year’s Knowles winner, Dr. Phillip Berger.

Lewis praised Berger for his incredible work in Africa battling the effects of HIV/AIDS. Lewis stated emphatically that many lives were saved solely due to Berger’s efforts.

Dr. Phillip Berger thanked OPSEU for the award, and commended the union for standing up against bullies like the Harris Tories. He also expressed his appreciation for the work of OPSEU members who have raised money for the fight against HIV/AIDS. He described the horrifying conditions he encountered in Africa, especially the devastating toll the disease is taking on the women and children in the communities.

The last award presented on Day 2 was the Local Health and Safety Award, presented to Local 411 at the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre. Smokey Thomas said that correctional facilities present unique problems when it comes to health and safety, and OPSEU was proud of this local for their accomplishments. John Cooper accepted the award for the local, and thanked the Health and Safety Committee for giving them the confidence to deal with the employer.

An emergency resolution was then brought to the floor concerning the organizing of part-time employees at Ontario’s community colleges. Earlier in the day, the Ontario Labour relations Board declined to order a vote for these employees, instead ordering full hearings on the matter. Thomas announced that there would be a full campaign to protest this decision, including petitioning the province’s MPPs to immediately table the legislation to allow these workers to join the union. In a moving show of solidarity, convention delegates voted unanimously to support the campaign.

 

April 17, 2008

Thomas and Rout welcome members to the 2008 OPSEU Convention

 

OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas welcomed members this morning to the first convention under his leadership.

 

Thomas told the members that this year’s Convention theme, “It’s a New Day,” truly reflected OPSEU as a union. “This is a celebration of what we have done, and what we will do,” he said.

 

OPSEU 1st Vice-President/Treasurer Patty Rout also addressed the members, saying “We are truly Ontario’s union.”

 

Rout was proud to report on the financial health of the union. “We have a balanced budget. We are out of debt. And we have $50 million in the strike fund.”

 

This year’s packed Convention agenda includes guest speakers Stephen Lewis, international HIV/AIDS fundraiser Tom Potter, NUPGE Secretary-Treasurer Larry Brown and Dr. Phillip Berger, this year’s winner of the Stanley Knowles Humanitarian Award.

 

Awards for health and safety, human rights and the Live and Let Live Award will be handed out over the course of the convention. New this year is the Leah Casselman Award, presented to individuals and locals that exemplify the sprit and intent of mobilizing to win. Winners of the Casselman Award this year are the six developmental services locals who went on strike last year.

 

Delegates to the convention debated the union’s $70 million budget, as well as resolutions and constitutional amendments that were sent to the Convention from locals and other union committees.

 

Events for this year include a trip to the Blue Jays baseball game on Thursday night in support of the Live and Let Live Fund, and a comedy show on Friday night headlined by “This Hour has 22 Minutes” alumni Mary Walsh.