LBED team chair Vanda Klumper (centre) at Queen's Park with Julio Da Silva, Service Employees International Union Local 2 (left), and Lykke de la Cour, Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 3903.

 

Support growing for casual workers – no matter where they work

Support is growing for an OPSEU campaign to improve jobs for part-time and temporary workers in Ontario.

At Queen’s Park last week, the chair of the OPSEU Liquor Board Employees Division joined speakers from two other unions to call for "equal pay for equal work" for workers everywhere – no matter what type of job they have.

"As chair of our bargaining team, I can tell you that Liquor Board employees are determined to address the unequal treatment of casual employees," Vanda Klumper told a news conference. "But the problem of low wages for part-time and temporary workers goes far beyond the LCBO.

"We believe there is strong public support for legislation requiring employers to provide equal pay for equal work regardless of the worker’s status as a part-timer, a contract worker, a seasonal, or a temporary agency employee."

The news conference was sponsored by Cheri DiNovo, an NDP MPP from Toronto. DiNovo plans to introduce a private member’s bill in the spring. The bill will include equal pay for equal work as a central plank.

While the LBED bargaining team is the driving force behind the "Equal Pay" campaign, the campaign is ringing bells everywhere. OPSEU Executive Board Members will take part in news conferences on the issue on Dec. 10. Top OPSEU officials from the Broader Public Service will help out throughout the day.

Beyond OPSEU, the Equal Pay campaign was endorsed by the Toronto-based Good Jobs Coalition at a meeting Dec. 1. "Support for the Equal Pay campaign was unanimous," said David Rapaport, OPSEU Region 5 Vice-President. "This is a Good Jobs campaign."

The coalition is made up of 40 unions and community groups.

Two other key leaders will also join OPSEU at events Dec. 10. John Cartwright is president of the Toronto and York Region Labour Council. Deena Ladd, coordinator of the Workers’ Action Centre, is a strong voice in support of "precarious" workers and their need for decent jobs.

The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), representing three million Canadian workers, has also endorsed the Equal Pay campaign.

A new and improved web site at www.equalpay.ca  provides key info about the campaign. Supporters can also download a petition at the site and learn about other actions to take.

Want to know more about union contract demands?

Last week’s edition of the Echo reported on the Nov. 22 Final Demand-Setting Meeting that set the union’s agenda for the upcoming round of bargaining with the LCBO. Since then, some members have been asking, "Where can I get more details?"

Here’s the answer: Ask your OPSEU local president. Fifty-eight elected delegates attended the Nov. 22 meeting, and they know all there is to know.

"We have a lot of work ahead of us to shape our negotiating strategy based on the priorities the members have put forward," says LBED bargaining team chair Vanda Klumper. "At this stage we’d rather not use the Echo to give the employer all the details."

Dec. 10 event details

As part of the Equal Pay campaign, OPSEU and allies will be marking the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights with campaign events across the province.

Article 23(2) of the Declaration says that "Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work."

The Dec. 10 events will run from 4:30 p.m. to closing. They are not demonstrations. OPSEU local members will be talking to members of the public, handing out leaflets and buttons, and asking people to sign the petition in support of the campaign.

To find out more, see the list below or contact the OPSEU mobilizer for your area.

OPSEU Region 1
London:  Argyle Mall, 348 Clarke Rd.
London: 3050 Wonderland Rd. S.
Sarnia: 1330 Exmouth St.

OPSEU Region 2
Waterloo: 115 King St. S, (Waterloo Town Square)
Hamilton: 971 Fennell Ave. E. (Fennell Square)
Mississauga: 2458 Dundas St. W.

OPSEU Region 3
Peterborough: 879 Lansdowne St. W.
Oshawa: 400 Gibb St.
Markham: 192 Bullock Dr.

OPSEU Region 4
Ottawa: 640 Bank St.
Kanata: 457 Hazeldean Rd.
Kingston:  905 Princess Street
Cornwall: 960 Brookvale Rd. (Brookvale Mall)

OPSEU Region 5
Toronto: Yonge & Summerhill
Toronto: 232 Dupont St. just east of Spadina
Toronto: 3520 Dundas St. W. just west of Jane
Toronto: 1941 Yonge St. just south of Davisville
Toronto: 1654 Queen St. E. just east of Coxwell
Toronto: 1145 Danforth Ave. just west of Greenwood

OPSEU Region 6
Timmins: 100 Waterloo Rd. (Hollinger Court)
Sault Ste. Marie: 150 Churchill Blvd. (Churchill Plaza)
North Bay: 1711 Algonquin Ave.
Sudbury: 2040 Algonquin Rd.

OPSEU Region 7
Thunder Bay: Thunder Centre, 969 Fort William Rd.
Fort Frances: 210 3rd St. E.

OPSEU mobilizers, Liquor Board Employees Division

OPSEU Region 1 (southwestern Ontario)
Judith Laird, Local 163 judithlairdlcbo@rogers.com  

OPSEU Region 2 (west central Ontario)
Paula Sossi, Local 285 paulasossi@rogers.com  

OPSEU Region 3 (east central Ontario)
Marlon Reid, Local 377 marlonrreid@yahoo.ca  

OPSEU Region 4 (eastern Ontario)
Devon Ford, Local 499 devonford2@hotmail.com 

OPSEU Region 5 (Toronto)
Mike Pallotta, Local 5108: lacasse.pallotta@sympatico.ca  

OPSEU Region 5 (Toronto)
Valerie Daughton, Local 5110: valeriedaughton@sympatico.ca  

OPSEU Region 6 (northeastern Ontario)
Mellisa Jackson, Local 682: mellisa_allan@hotmail.com

OPSEU Region 7 (northwestern Ontario)
Anne Makela, Local 741: akmakela@tbaytel.net  

Don’t let health and
safety take a holiday

This is the month the LCBO gets really busy. But being busy should not mean health and safety rules no longer apply.

"In December, because we are so busy, especially in the stores and warehouses, I know some of our members think health and safety takes a holiday," says Vanda Klumper, chair of the OPSEU Liquor Board Employees Division. "It is important not to pile cases higher than we normally would, or pile cases on the floor so aisles get too narrow.

"The law says very clearly that you have the right to refuse unsafe work, so take the time to make sure your work area remains safe," she said. "Don’t end up on crutches or worse by taking shortcuts on safety."