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 Executive
Board Members (outgoing and incoming), Convention committees
(Constitution, Resolution and Credentials), a maximum of seven members
from each of the Retirees’ Committee, Provincial Women’s Committee,
and Provincial Human Rights Committee.
Here are the approximated numbers for the
first day of Convention 2001.
Delegates 753
Alternates 460
Observers 145
Executive Board Members 21 + 8
PHRC 7
PWC 7
Constitution Committee 7
Resolutions Committee 7
Credentials Committee 7
Retirees 6
Solidarity Guests 14
Guests 8
Honourary Life Members
Every year the Board chooses three
members as Honourary Life members of OPSEU. This year Bob Taylor from
Local 534, Vince Vadacchino from Local 214 and Linda J. Wood from Local
418 have been selected.
Brother Taylor was president of Local 534
for over ten years, president of the Queen’s Park Area Council for 10
years and on the Resolutions Committee representing Region 5 for six
years.
Bob has worked on every campaign, was a
member of the Region 5 Labour Activities Committee, the Human Rights
Committee, and worked on organizing regional human rights conferences as
well as the Labour Day celebrations and the annual picnic. “ Brother
Taylor developed a reputation as the telephone organizer. If you wanted
to organize an event or meeting, mobilize or just get the word out, Bob
would hit the phones by himself and reach every appropriate member and
activist,” said David Rapaport.
Brother Vince Vadacchino was President of
Local 214 where he worked as an x-ray technician. “His dedication to
the Medical Division is irrefutable and is attested to by his serving as
treasurer of the Division since the days of the CSAO and his
participation on every central bargaining team, save one, since the
Division’s inception,” said Patty Rout in her nomination of Vince.
Patty continues to say “this dedication was instrumental in making
OPSEU the union of choice for hospital professionals.”
Sister Linda J. Wood was President of
Local 418. She volunteered on her Area Council, the Kingston and
District Labour Council and is the Vice-President of the injured workers
support network in the Kingston area. Sister Wood continues to assist
the Ontario Federation of Labour’s It’s all on the line campaign,
with the Kingston and District Labour Council’s Cable Cast.
Stanley Knowles Humanitarian Award
Stephen Lewis, currently an adjunct
professor at York University and Special Advisor to a number of UN
agencies, including UNICEF, is this year’s recipient of the Stanley
Knowles Humanitarian Award.
Lewis was born in Ottawa in 1937. A
politician and journalist, diplomat and son of CCF/NDP politician David
Lewis, he taught in Africa in the early ’60’s and later served as an
organizer for the New Democratic Party. In 1963, he won the Scarborough
West seat in the Ontario legislature and was elected party leader in
1970, taking the party to official opposition status.
He left politics in 1977 after electoral
defeat to work as a broadcaster, lecturer and labour arbitrator and in
1984 was appointed Canada’s Ambassador to the United Nations.
In 1997, in addition to his work at
UNICEF, he was appointed by the Organization of African Unity to a Panel
of Eminent Personalities to Investigate the Genocide in Rwanda. The
report was issued in June of 2000.
Health and Safety
Local 310 wins Award
The courthouse in Newmarket was
constructed in 1979. A few years later staff began complaining of
drowsiness and difficulty in concentrating late in the afternoon.
Complaints of general air deficiencies and various odours were also made
to the Ministry of Labour.
About four years ago, during a complete
brick replacement on the exterior of the building it was discovered that
a vapour barrier was never installed, thus moisture in the building and
inherent roof leaks would allow mould to grow. Mould develops when
moisture and drywall combine.
In February, 2000, construction began on
a foundation for an addition to the courthouse and that’s when the
real trouble began. Staff began to suffer from headaches, nose bleeds,
difficulty breathing, stuffy nose, nausea, sneezing, sinus infections,
and rashes. Some staff were even removed by ambulance because of the
severity.
Journals were kept and the Ministry of
Labour was called to investigate what appeared to be a pattern. Local
310 applauds the support of Bob DeMatteo and Lisa McCaskell from OPSEU’s
Health and Safety Department. “Bob’s expertise in the field of
health and safety was instrumental in providing interpretation to the
reports received from the environmental experts, and he encouraged our
members to stay united by publishing a series of articles known as
Hazard Alerts,” said Val Erwin, Treasurer of Local 310.
The courthouse was eventually closed and
the staff were re-located to trailers on the premises. This presents a
host of other health and safety issues which the local continues to
address.
“Needless to say, a feeling of mistrust
and apprehension still envelopes the re-entry into the courthouse,”
said Val Erwin. A class action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of
everyone who has been affected by the mould and poor air quality in the
Newmarket courthouse.
The saga continues for the members of
OPSEU Local 310.
Terry Lee makes outstanding contribution
“Brother Terry Lee has made
outstanding contributions to the members of Local 143 in Occupational
Health and Safety,” said Ron Elliot, Regional Vice-President in Region
1.
Terry has been a worker- member on the
Joint Health and Safety committee for about 20 years, most of them as
co-chair.
Brother Lee forced the employer to
establish joint health and safety committees in all of the work-sites
where Local 143 has members. The employer agreed to have all of the
worker members certified and even paid for the training.
Recently, Terry uncovered major concerns
at two work locations. The employer was forced to bring in experts to
investigate. The situation was so severe in one instance that the
employer looked at relocating all of workers.
“When health and safety is
mentioned in Local 143, the members think of Brother Terry Lee,” Ron
Elliot said.
Points for meetings
These easily understood rules should get
you through meetings for at least the next 20 years.
1) THE MOTION: You must be
recognized by the chair and state “I move …
2) THE AMENDMENT: Amendments are
offered in the same way as motions. They are introduced to change or
complete a motion to make it more acceptable to everyone.
3) AMENDING THE AMENDMENT: Just as
a motion may be amended, an amendment may also be changed.
4) SPEAKING ON MOTIONS OR AMENDMENTS: After
you are recognized by the chair you may speak either for or against the
motion or amendments that are being considered.
5) HOW TO CALL FOR CLOSURE: Once
recognized by the chair, you call for the previous question It takes
two-thirds of the voting membership to carry closure.
6) HOW TO TABLE: When a MOTION TO
TABLE passes, the main motion is put aside. No action is taken, and the
meeting goes on to other business. If the motion to table is defeated,
discussion on the main motion continues. A motion to table cannot be
debated or amended; and if it is supported by ONE other member, it
should be put to an immediate vote by the chair.
7) POINT OF INFORMATION: If at any
time during the meeting you are confused about the business being
discussed, or if you want the motion that is being considered more
clearly explained, you may rise to ask the chair for a POINT OF
INFORMATION. After you are recognized, ask for the explanation you
desire.
8) POINT OF ORDER: If you disagree
with any of the chair’s rulings or if you believe that the person who
is speaking is not talking about the business being considered, you may
raise a POINT OF ORDER and state your objection to the chair. The Chair
is required to rule one way or another on your point of order.
9) PRIVILEDGED MOTIONS: These are
motions that have nothing to do with the current question. They are of
such urgency and importance that they may interrupt the proceedings.
They rank as follows: a) to fix time of next meeting, b) to adjourn, c)
recess when privileged, d) question of privilege, and e) call for orders
of the day.
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