FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 4,  2000

OPSEU celebrates 25 years

TORONTO – The Ontario Public Service Employees Union holds its 25^th anniversary convention starting Thursday, April 6, at the Sheraton Centre Hotel in downtown Toronto.

About 1,200 delegates and guests are expected at the three-day meeting.

Highlights of the convention include:

• Guest speaker Murray Dobbin, author and member of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Friday, April 7 – 11:30 a.m.
• Presentation of OPSEU’s annual Stanley Knowles Humanitarian Award (posthumously) to singer/civil rights activist Paul Robeson, Saturday, April 8 – 1:30 p.m.
• Remarks by Calgary Herald striker Andy Marshall, Friday, April 7 – 1:30 p.m.
• Support rally for CUPE strikers, Thursday – noon, Nathan Phillips Square

Among issues coming to the convention floor over the three-day period will be fair wages for workers in the Broader Public Service, workplace democracy, defending post-secondary education, fighting privatization and boycotting the National Post.

For the first time this year, video news of the convention will be available daily on the union’s website. Video streaming will link members to the convention twice daily. The video feature will include highlights such as the address of President Leah Casselman, the union’s 25^th anniversary video, and key debates. These will be available at www.opseu.org.

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For further information:

Katie FitzRandolph (OPSEU Communications) (416) 448-7440 or home (416) 967-5964
Randy Robinson (OPSEU Communications) (416) 448-7441
Pierre Floréa (OPSEU Communications) (416) 448-7442, c. (416) 258-