Newsletter

October 7,  2005: Issue 1

Committee hard at work drafting plans for new locals

                The committee set up to oversee the merger of OLBEU and OPSEU is hard at work on a plan to create new OPSEU locals to serve LCBO employees.

                It is no simple task. OPSEU groups its locals into seven regions across the province. In many cases, these regions cut across OLBEU zone boundaries. The new OPSEU locals will not cover the same area as the old OLBEU zones.

                The creation of locals is a key step in the merger, said John Coones, Chair of the OPSEU Liquor Board Employees Division.

                “Zones must be converted to locals so that these locals can qualify for funding,” he said. “Funding will give locals the tools they need to get up and running, get access to OPSEU resources, and serve our members better.”

                Once completed, the Transition Committee’s proposal on locals will go out to all Division members for review and comment. A member assembly will be held to allow full discussion of the proposal and ideas for improvements to it.

                Members of the Liquor Board Employees Division will be governed by the OPSEU constitution as of Jan. 1, 2006. The OPSEU Executive Board will debate and approve new locals shortly after that date.

Building a culture of communication
by Leah Casselman, President

                Welcome to the first issue of The Echo produced with the logo of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union.

                The merger of the Ontario Liquor Boards Employees Union with OPSEU is an exciting moment for all of us. The Echo is a way for all members in the new Liquor Board Employees Division of OPSEU to stay informed about what your new union is doing for you — and how you can play an active role in the life of your union.

                The format is new. In OPSEU, we like our bulletins to be clear, informative, and brief. The Echo will be sent out by e-mail and fax and will be posted on our

web site at www.opseu.org. Please make sure it is posted on the union bulletin board where you work.

                This newsletter is just a small part of the culture of communication that we want to build in the Division. A newsletter is one-way communication; the communication we want is two-way. This means participation. This means you, the member, need to communicate with your union — with your co-workers, your stewards, your local executive committee, and at Divisional, regional and provincial meetings of OPSEU.

                Working together, two great unions are becoming one greater union.

                Communication is the key. I look forward to hearing from you.

In solidarity,

Leah Casselman President, Ontario Public Service Employees Union

Need help? Call OPSEU Direct

If you have an issue, concern, or question about anything that’s going on in your workplace, your union is there to help. The OLBEU zone stewards, zone reps, and staff representatives that helped you before are there to help you today — backed by the full resources of OPSEU.

Don’t know your steward?
Don’t know your zone rep?
Don’t know who to call about benefits, grievances, health and safety, the Employee Assistance Program, or any other issue?

Call OPSEU Direct at (416) 443-8888 or 1-800-268-7376. We’ll direct you to the person who can help!

Get on the list!

You can receive The Echo directly by fax or e-mail. Just let us know how to reach you. Send your secure e-mail address or fax number to Jackie Evans, OPSEU Communications, at (416) 443-1762 (fax) or jevans@opseu.org. Or call ext. 8675 at OPSEU head office: 1-800-268-7376 or (416) 443-8888.

The Echo is authorized for distribution by:

John Coones Chair, Liquor Board Employees Division

Leah Casselman, President

Getting to know your union

OPSEU groups its locals into seven regions, shown here. In addition to head office and 19 fully staffed and equipped regional office, the union operates 11 membership centres around the province, where locals can get access to computers, phone lines, fax machines, and meeting space for union business.

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