News Releases    

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 2, 2002

Annual OPSEU Convention to go ahead April 4-6

Rebuilding public services will be the theme as the 2002 Convention of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union takes place April 4-6 in Toronto.

OPSEU represents about 95,000 employees of the Ontario government, public hospitals, community colleges, universities, ambulance services, municipalities, school boards, Children’s Aid Societies, community agencies and corporations. More than 1,200 elected delegates, alternates and observers from across Ontario will meet in the Ballroom of the Sheraton Centre Hotel on Queen St. West.

OPSEU President Leah Casselman said the annual convention was going ahead as scheduled because the union has important issues to discuss, including strategy for the next provincial election. Delegates will also be supporting the OPS picket lines.

“For the first time in our history, nearly half of our members in the public service have been forced out on strike at Convention time,” Casselman said. “We can’t let the provincial government interfere with the highest decision-making body of our union. We owe it to our members to make sure the tough decisions get made.”

The convention will convene at 9 a.m. on Thursday, April 4. Highlights include:

Leah Casselman’s address to the delegates at 9:30 a.m., Thursday.

Larry Brown, secretary- treasurer of the National Union of Public and General Employees, will speak on the Save Public Medicare campaign at 1:30 p.m. Thursday.

Wayne Samuelson, President of the Ontario Federation of Labour, will address the delegates about provincial election strategy on Friday, April 5, at 11:30 a.m.

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For further information:

OPSEU Communications:
David Cox, 416/443-8888 Ext. 314 or 416/788-9197
Paul Bilodeau, 416/443-8888 Ext. 780 or 416/432-5021