Casselman addresses convention
“Convention is the time when we look at
the bigger picture, when we look at how OPSEU works for all its members
and how we fit into the broader labour movement. This convention is also
about looking toward the future and how we’re going to move forward
together,” Leah Casselman told the convention.
Leah thanked the more than 4,600 members
who chose to stay with OPSEU and the 1,300 new members from the BPS.
She noted that OPSEU commits more than $2
million each year to organizing, 80 per cent of which goes to reorganizing
divested members and those affected by privatization. She pointed out that
we face not only problems with the divestment and privatization of our
members but also, in the case of the Solicitor General staff, of having
them legislated out of OPSEU and into the Ontario Provincial Police
Association.
Rather than cut services and
representation, Leah told the convention that we are obligated to put more
resources into serving our francophone members.
She used the Walkerton crisis as an example
of what happens when there aren’t enough resources to do the job right.
“OPSEU was instrumental in forcing the government to hold a public
inquiry and protect whistle blowers,” said Casselman
At convention Friday a special presentation
will honour those members directly affected by the Walkerton
tragedy.
Rather than blame the tragedy on individual
mistakes, Leah stressed that any solid system of public services should be
able to withstand individual mistakes. It is important to mobilize for a
well-funded public services system, which can prevent disasters like
Walkerton. “
Our central pool of resources continues to
fight grievances, bargain new collective agreements, and support strikes
but with double the number of contracts we had 15 years ago and about the
same number of staff. We need better workplace strategies,” she said.
That’s where the Network for Better
Contracts comes in. These are tough times and members need support more
than ever.
Leah supports the creation of a new local
time off fund for local activists, and a Solidarity Fund for members who
face lawsuits and professional discipline. She also supports a dues
increase.
“We need the money because our challenges
aren’t going away,” she said.
Convention OKs ‘security bylaw’
With only a couple of questions asked,
Convention ’01 approved the audited financial statements and reappointed
the auditors Thursday morning.
A constitutional amendment to allow use of
the Strike Fund – with strict limits – to back indebtedness generated
more debate.
The amendment lets the Board use the fund
as security for mortgages and loans. The union’s head office (and the
mortgage on it) have been attributed to the Strike Fund for years.
Delegates were assured the amendment would not jeopardize the Strike Fund.
As long as the union meets its debt obligations, there would be no reason
for a lender to call in its loans.
Failure to pass the amendment might make
lenders nervous, and could cause them to call in the loan, with only the
Strike Fund to repay with in any event.
David Rapaport, Local 503, expressed
concern it would lead to a withering of the Strike Fund – which is
designed to back up members at the bargaining table and convince employers
that the union was resolved in its bargaining demands. Joan Gates of Local
331 was also concerned it might siphon off of money from the Strike
Fund.
Isabelle Mercier of Local 720 said the
union was living on a $5 million line of credit because it was putting 10
per cent of revenues into the Strike Fund. Since the Strike Fund is the
cause of the monthly shortfall, it should back up the operating loan.
BM Dave Calvert, Local 454, said the change
does nothing to the Strike Fund. Lenders know we pay interest on our line
of credit each month, and they know we have $25 million in the Strike Fund
to back it up. “If they think our finances are wonky, they’ll demand
their money either from the Strike Fund or from the services we provide,”
Calvert said.
Convention also passed a companion “Security
Bylaw” which gives financial effect to the constitutional change.
Thursday’s Report
Automatic delegates include all EBMs
(outgoing and incoming), Convention committees, a maximum of seven members
from each of the Retirees’ Committee, Provincial Women’s Committee,
and Provincial Human Rights Committee.
Here are the numbers for the second day of
Convention 2001. Delegates 686 Alternates 343 Observers 109 Executive
Board Members 21 Committees 35 Retirees 7 Solidarity Guests 7 Guests
20 Total: 1, 228
Region 3 picks their Board
The members in Region 3 were spared an
additional Regional meeting today when convention approved an emergency
resolution.
On March 17th the delegates in Region 3
elected their three Board members — or so they thought. Apparently not
even Region 3 can overturn the constitution. The Board upheld a challenge
issued by a member in the Region, which meant that there needed to be
another election.
The resolution asked convention to allow
Region 3 to reconvene their Regional meeting at the close of Thursday’s
sessions to conclude the election process. The delegates supported the
resolution.
As a result of the election, David Chew
completes the team of three with Doris Middleton and Pauline Tapping.
Pauline also retains her position as Regional Vice President and Doris as
alternate. A further motion allowed for the elections to committees and
conventions to stand as elected in March.
Sick child emphasizes importance of
contract
Richard Larcher from Local 629, rose on a
point of privilege Thursday to read a letter of thanks from Claude and
Nicole Giroux. Their son, Serge, diagnosed with osteogenic sarcoma, the
same cancer that Terry Fox had, was the recipient of a donation from the
2000 Convention.
In a moving letter, Giroux brought the
delegates up to date on Serge’s progress and how this illness has
affected their family. Claude, a probation and parole officer and member
of Local 629, wrote about the importance of the OPS Collective agreement
in helping them through their ordeal. Article 25, which allows for special
leave for compassionate purposes, gave Claude the time he needed to deal
with the proper care of their son.
Serge’s response to chemotherapy has not
been favourable and he may require more intense treatment. Richard is
asking once again that the floor consider Serge when donations are made
this year.
Help Wanted
Reporters needed to write on days events
for “In Solidarity” Update. If you are interested, please contact one
of the members of the INFO/BIS Committee
Bearpit sidetracks dues debate
Delegates were just getting warmed up to a
debate on a dues increase when they were diverted by bear-baiting.
Before the bearpit for candidates for the
two full-time union offices, the Convention had agreed – with the
overwhelming mandate of an avalanche – to cut the links between a dues
increase and spending it all on organizing.
First Vice-President/Treasurer Len Hupet,
who received a standing ovation for his budget address, told delegates
that a dues increase is essential. “When you find yourself in a hole,
the first thing to do is to stop digging,” he said. OPSEU struggles by
on a $5 million line of credit, used to the maximum each month, he
said.
When debate closed for electoral politics,
delegates were debating a .15 per cent dues increase, with an amendment to
raise that to .2 per cent and another amendment to drop from .2 to .15
when the line of credit is paid off.
The budget discussion will continue
Friday.
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