| ||||||||||||
 |
r | ||
 |
|||
Newsletter
May 19, 2006: Issue 7 Union slams agency store plan Liberals want 20 more private outlets The Liquor Board Employees Division of OPSEU has responded angrily to a Liberal government plan to open 20 new agency stores in locations around Ontario. “The plan to open new agency stores is a direct threat to the LCBO’s social responsibility mandate,” said LBED Acting Chair Mike Sullivan. “These stores are private businesses, so there is always a potential conflict between maximizing profits and the best interest of the community. The LCBO has no way to guarantee agency stores won’t sell alcohol to minors, people who are intoxicated, or people who may drink and drive.” The announcement is yet another broken promise by Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, who said before the 2003 election that he would halt the expansion of the agency stores program. Ontario Infrastructure Minister David Caplan announced on Monday that the LCBO will be looking for operators for private outlets in Amberley, Brigden, Castleton, Chaffey's Locks, Clear Creek, Dashwood, Erieau/Erie Beach, Flesherton/Eugenia, Gobles/Princeton, Lighthouse Cove, Lowbanks/Long Beach, McArthur Mills, McGregor, Melbourne, North Augusta, Oil Springs, Port Franks, Rockton, Walters Falls and White Lake. Some agency stores could open this year; the rest would open in 2007. A wide range of organizations, like the Ontario Public Health Association, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health have spoken out against the privatization of liquor sales. The Agency Stores Committee of the Liquor Board Employees Division of OPSEU is developing a response to this latest move to open more agency stores. Collective agreement signed The official signing ceremony for the new collective agreement between OPSEU and the LCBO took place on May 10. Copies of the contract should arrive through the LCBO internal mail system in June. To see pictures of the signing ceremony, got to http://www.opseu.org/lbed/may1206colagreephoto.htm .Jo Ann Fisher is on leave Jo Ann Fisher, First Vice-Chair of the Liquor Board Employees Division of OPSEU, is on leave for the next six to eight weeks. Jo Ann has been standing in as Acting Chair for John Coones, who is also on leave. Second Vice-Chair Mike Sullivan assumes the duties of Acting Chair. Calling all casuals! Please complete the casual benefits survey The Casual Benefits Committee of the Liquor Board Employees Division is asking all casual employees at the LCBO to complete an important survey this week. The committee has been working since last fall to find ways to provide benefits for casual employees, to be paid for with the pay-in-lieu-of-benefits members currently receive. To craft the best possible plan, the committee needs feedback. Copies of the survey have been sent to every store, office and warehouse through the LCBO internal mail. Casual members are asked to complete the survey (on their own time) and return it to the union, through LCBO internal mail, in the envelope provided. Under OPSEU policy, the union can only instruct the employer to re-direct members’ pay-in-lieu to a benefit plan if the majority of casual members agree to it in a secret ballot vote. This survey is not a vote. It is to gather information only. Members with questions about the survey or the Casual Benefits Committee can contact Marnie Niemi, OPSEU Benefits Counsellor, by e-mail at mniemi@opseu.org. Campaign aims to protect privatized workers OPSEU has launched a major campaign to protect Crown employees whose jobs are privatized. In Ontario, most unionized workers are entitled to move with their job, their collective agreement, and their union if their work is sold to a new employer. But if you are a Crown employee — and LCBO staff are Crown employees — you’re out of luck. In 1995, the Mike Harris government changed the law so that Crown employees do not have so-called “successor rights.” In the Ontario Public Service, thousands of people were thrown out of work when their jobs were privatized. In 2003, Ontario Liberal leader Dalton McGuinty promised that, if elected, he would change the law back. “Public employees should have the same rights as employees in the private sector, and, as Premier, I will restore successor rights for Ontario government employees.” Three years later, nothing has changed. Crown employees still do not have successor rights. OPSEU aims to fix that. The union has launched a major campaign to persuade Mr. McGuinty to keep his promise. To send him a campaign postcard, contact your OPSEU steward. For campaign materials and more information, visit the OPSEU web site at http://www.opseu.org/campaign/samerights/index.htm.Get on the list! You can receive The Echo directly by fax or e-mail. Just let us know how to reach you. Give us your secure e-mail address or fax number by calling OPSEUdirect at 1-800-268-7376 or (416) 443-8888. The Echo is authorized for distribution by: Mike Sullivan,
Acting Chair The Echo is authorized for distribution by Jo Ann Fisher, Acting Chair, Liquor Board Employees Division, and Leah Casselman, President.
Download
this issue
.pdf
|
Ontario Public Service Employees Union, 100 Lesmill Rd. Toronto, ON M3B 3P8 (416) 443-8888 www.opseu.org |
|
|
Questions about technical content or comments on this site may be directed to the webmaster. |
|
News Pages | How to join OPSEU | Ontario Public Service | Broader Public Service | Community Colleges | Contact Us | Grievance Awards Database | Search | Francais |
