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| April 6, 2000 Convention Day 1 | |
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Who’s all here anyway? There will be approximately 1,400 members attending convention. These numbers may change as cancellations and additions are common at the beginning of convention. Automatic delegates include all 21 Executive Board Members, the three Convention committees (Constitution, Resolutions and Credentials), and seven members from each of the Retired Members Division, Provincial Women’s Committee, and Provincial Human Rights Committee. Here are the approximate numbers for the first day of Convention 2000.
Health and Safety Awards OPSEU presents an award each year to the individual member who has made the most outstanding contribution to advancing members’ interests in the area of occupational health and safety. Nominations, including a brief statement outlining the nature of the contribution must reach the board at least 30 days before Convention. This year’s winner is Bob Arnold of Local 431 at Kingston Psychiatric Hospital, a Maintenance Mechanic 3, and a member of the local’s Occupational Health and Safety Committee. He has a record for vigilance in getting issues addressed. Over the past two years, he has been responsible for identifying the hazards associated with lead paint as well as its removal and clean up from the Hospital, especially the Beechgrove site, which is used as a children’s day-care. Congratulations Bob! The award for an outstanding local was not given out this year. Human Rights At each annual Convention OPSEU presents two human rights awards. One award goes to a Local and the other to an individual member who has made a significant contribution to the advancement of Human Rights and principles of equity in the union. John Rae of Local 580 receives the individual honour. He served on the Race Relations and Minority Rights Committee from 1986 to 1993 until the Human Rights Committee was established. He was instrumental in persuading OPSEU to consider issues of access and equity. He has also worked with NUPGE and the CLC on the issues of disability and equity. Local 213, Syl Apps Youth Cenfre, will receive the Local award. In 1987 the local amended their by-laws to include a Human Rights Committee and in 1989 they established a joint Employment Equity Committee. They continue to promote human rights by monitoring employer violations of the collective agreement and the Human Rights Code. Members for life During Convention each year, OPSEU recognizes three members, who have retired from employment, as Honourary Life Members of the union. In making its selection, the union’s Executive Board considers several criteria. Honorary life members are recognized for the following reasons:
This year the honour will go to: Donna Bryant, Local 431 (posthumously), Dalton Carmichael, Retiree, and Bob Patrick, Retiree. Congratulations! The Stanley Knowles Humanitarian Award Spirit, dedication and ideals rooted in social justice exemplified Stanley Knowles. He was one of Canada’s best-known and most-respected opposition MPs. His dedication to justice for all made him influential across all party lines. He championed the fight for the Canada Pension Plan and other social programs. His greatest skill was the way he used his knowledge of parliamentary procedure to get results in the legislature. He became a national figure when he used this skill to slow down the infamous Trans-Canada Pipeline bill in 1956. This debate stands as the most famous example of his use of parliamentary expertise. A United Church minister, Mr. Knowles was elected as MP running as a Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) candidate in a Winnipeg by-election in 1942, succeeding the party’s founder, the Rev. J.S. Woodworth. He served as MP for Winnipeg North Centre for the CCF and NDP from 1942 - 1958 and from 1962- 1984, losing his seat for a short time during the Diefenbaker sweep. During that time, he joined the Canadian Labour Congress, and was instrumental in establishing the NDP in 1961. Even though he gave up his seat in 1984, he remained in the House as an honourary officer, an honour bestowed upon him by former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. In 1987, OPSEU recognized Stanley Knowles by presenting him with a humanitarian award. Thereafter, OPSEU named the award after Stanley Knowles. It has been given out annually to recognize individuals, or groups who exemplify the spirit, dedication and ideals of Mr. Knowles. Paul Robeson is being honoured posthumously at Convention 2000. Robeson was born on April 9, 1898, in Princeton, N.J. His father was an escaped slave, who taught him to stand up for what he believed, regardless of consequence. During Robeson’s life he conquered many barriers. In 1915 he won a four-year academic scholarship to Rutgers University, excelled while there and proceeded to attend Columbia Law School. As a lawyer, Robeson’s full potential was suppressed by racism. Instead he turned to theatre and music as a means of exercising his talent. He became the first African American to play Shakespeare’s Othello. Through his music, he promoted empowerment through black spirituals and sang in numerous languages throughout the U.S.A., Africa, Europe and the Soviet Union to encourage peace and social justice. His human and civil rights activities placed him under intense scrutiny by the U.S. House Committee on Un-American Activities during the McCarthy era. It labeled him a Communist, revoked his passport, and sabotaged his entire career. As a victim of the political hysteria of the times, his outstanding accomplishments were erased from the historical record. His legacy is not widely taught in schools. Instead of being remembered as the hero that he was, an historical amnesia has allowed him to fade away. Points for meetings These easily understood rules should get you through meetings for at least the next 20 years.
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Ontario Public Service Employees Union, 100 Lesmill Rd. Toronto, ON M3B 3P8 (416) 443-8888 www.opseu.org |
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