Convention
Report: OPSEU goes green with Suzuki
OPSEU presented the Stanley Knowles
Humanitarian Award to Dr. David Suzuki.
In his
acceptance speech, Suzuki gave a focused appeal to OPSEU to do
our part to make change towards more sustainable use of our
planet’s resources.
His message:
“We have to use our foresight and we have to act on it.” We
have to be aware of the interconnectedness between what we do
and how it impacts on the planet.
Globalization
is predicated on economic growth, but economists don’t
consider the water, air and soil to be part of the equation –
even though it is those elements we all need for our basic
survival, he said.
Suzuki gave
the examples of the impact of farmed fish, which has untold
effect on environments and people; and of people driving their
SUVs to take their loved ones to the hospital with asthma on
smog days: They don’t get the connection.
He mentioned
some easy things each of us can do to leave a smaller
footprint on the planet. How we live, how we eat and how we
travel -- leave your car at home, don't eat meat; and save
home energy. Members are invited to take the nature challenge
at:
www.davidsuzuki.org
OPSEU’s
green vision
The union has been a leader in campaigning on
environmental issues. OPSEU members clearly want the union to
be part of the solution to environmental problems.
OPSEU’s action plan:
1)
A network of ‘green stewards.’
2)
Standing up for green jobs.
3)
A greener union.
4)
Greener workplaces.
5)
Greener pensions and funds.
6)
Greener lifestyles.
7)
Greener labour movement.
8)
Greener communities.
Four key first steps include:
1)
Building on our greatest resource, the interest
and concern of our members for the environment.
2)
Leading by example: reducing energy and paper
use at convention.
3)
Develop tools for greening workplaces, and
educational resources for members.
4)
Build an environmental component into union
education.
Green initiatives will be listed on the OPSEU
web site as they develop. A report card will be made to the
2007 convention.
OPSEU
denounces OPP raid on Six Nations
OPSEU denounced the Ontario government and the
Ontario Provincial Police for the April 20 pre-dawn raid on
First Nations protestors at Caledonia.
“The
government and the OPP have failed to learn the lessons of
Ipperwash,” said OPSEU President Leah Casselman. “Our
governments must negotiate, not escalate.”
President
Casselman celebrates solidarity
President Casselman gave her 'state of the
union' message Thursday.
She promised the union would continue to fight
for justice, in solidarity with other workers, partners and
allies.
Casselman paid
tribute to the 9,100 College faculty bargaining team and the
division executive for their steadfast fight "against an
employer who categorically refused to bargain a contract."
She said the
strike need not have happened, and attributed it to
"gamesmanship" on the part of the current government. "Labour
disputes are not a game."
She also
called on the union to continue to support the
16,000 part-time college workers who are
legally barred from
organizing.
She also paid
tribute to locals involved in strikes at Kennedy House
Ajax, Community Living Mississauga, and the
Ambassador
Bridge
Duty-Free
in Windsor.
Casselman
called on Dalton McGuinty to fulfill his promise to
restore successor rights in the Ontario Public
Service.
She concluded
with a reference to the union’s contributions to the fight for
justice for Dudley George, killed in a land-claims protest
1995, saying the union would continue to fight for justice and
equity, in solidarity with allies.
Budget
passes
The union passed a $64-million annual budget
Friday after a constitutional amendment was passed to change
in the way the Strike Fund and the General Operating Fund are
funded.
The amount
transferred to the strike fund will be five per cent (changed
from 10 per cent) of dues revenues. Another amendment allows
the Executive Board to invoke a temporary dues levy of 0.2 per
cent, if the strike fund falls below $50-million as a result
of a strike or lockout.
Resolutions debated
·
A motion to affiliate OPSEU with the Ontario NDP was narrowly
defeated. Members expressed concerns with affiliating with a
potential employer, should the NDP be elected to government.
-
Delegates passed a motion that condemned the
Ontario government's planned privatization of the Human
Rights Commission.
-
A campaign to continue the fight for
successor rights for the OPS was approved.
-
Delegates also passed a motion to continue to
fight the closures of the three Developmental Services
Regional Centres.
-
A resolve to fight the suspension of the
Developmental Services Worker (DSW) program at Fanshawe
College
was passed.
Award
Recipients
Rainford Jackson Education and Development Fund
The award went to the Coalition of African
Canadian Community Organization, an ad-hoc group of about 30
community groups that have come together to respond to issues
important to the African Canadian community.
Workplace health and safety awards
Individual:
Brian Wilson,
probation and parole officer, for long years of activism.
Local:
Locals 560 and 561 Seneca
College,
for the installation of defillibrators.
Honorary lifetime membership awards
Stephanie Blake – former local president at
Ryerson
University
Ethel Birkett-LaValley – former OPSEU activist
and OFL executive member.
Edna Bowes - Former EBM and OPS bargaining team
member.
Human
rights awards
Individual:
Peggy MacDonald, Local 433
Local:
Local 506
Provincial Women’s Committee – Bread and Roses Award
Doris Rossi, Region 7
Regional
PWC Recognition Awards
Region 1 – Florry Lang
Region 2 – Libby Simpson
Region 3 – Marion Burton
Region 4 – Tara Langford
Region 5 – Mary Piro
Region 6 – Helen Riehl
Region 7 – Doris Meredith
John
Stammers
The 2006 Convention was dedicated to the memory
of John Stammers, Local 558, who died after injuries suffered
on a picket line during the College Academic strike in March.
Original authorized for distribution: Leah Casselman, OPSEU President
OPSEU ActionFax is an electronic publication of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union. Original authorized for distribution by Leah Casselman, president.
