OPSEU in the News

Physiotherapy change called a concern for all

July 30, 2008 Owen Sound Times: A decision to privatize the Kincardine hospital's physiotherapy department should be of concern to all Ontarians because similar moves are being made across the province, says a public health-care advocacy group spokesman. more... or PDF

Join Facebook group: 'Petition to stop private physiotherapy company Kincardine (ON) hospital'

Union says ‘stench lingers’ at superjail in Penetang

July 25, 2008 Barrie Examiner: OPSEU says the stench of privatization still lingers at the superjail. more...

Doctors join OPSEU’s fight against private clinic in Kincardine

July 25, 2008 Owen Sound Sun Times: Local physicians are fighting to stop the Kincardine hospital from contracting out its physiotherapy services, saying the move creates a two-tier health-care system which has the community outraged. more...

Windsor group home slated to close – union protest planned today

July 25, 2008 Windsor Star: A Windsor group home for young offenders is slated to close, after receiving notice from the Ministry of Children and Youth Services that it will no longer receive funding. more...

Union challenges Rouge Valley cutbacks

July 17, 2008 Scarborough Mirror: Two sides battling over proposed cutbacks at Rouge Valley Health System must now wait for a panel of judges to rule on the precedent-setting case. more...

Striking Workers call offer an insult

July 4, 2008 Owen Sound Sun Times: Program assistants’ walkout enters tenth week after new contract offer overwhelmingly rejected. more...

Profile: Eric Morin elected OPS bargaining chair

June 24, 2008 North Bay Nugget: The newly elected chair of the Ontario Public Service Central and Unified bargaining team is gearing up to negotiate a contract for 42,000 Ontario workers. more...

Thunder Bay hospital faces more charges for fire code violations

June 13, 2008 Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences is facing eight new charges after a visit from the Fire Marshal’s office. more...

Legislation needed to stop violence in social/community work sectors

June 13, 2008 London Topic: Community and social service workers from across southwestern Ontario gathered in London Friday (June 13), to discuss what they call an "epidemic of threats, violence and abuse" that plagues their occupational field. more...

Home health care in crisis

June 12, 2008 Peterborough Examiner: An unstable work environment caused by competitive bidding and low wages is plaguing the home-care sector, an Ontario Health Coalition panel heard yesterday. more...

CMHA workers hold info picket

June 12, 2008 Woodstock Sentinel Review: Members of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) Local 152 set up an information picket Wednesday reacting to what they say are unfair bargaining. more...

Funding freeze leads to KidsAbility layoffs

June 10, 2008 The Record: Children struggling with disabilities are the victims of staff layoffs at KidsAbility, says the chief executive officer of the treatment centre in Waterloo. more...

Thomas: Where is the Premier’s plan?

June 9, 2008 In a letter to the Toronto Star, President Thomas asks Dalton McGuinty to invite business, labour, academics, non-governmental organizations and community groups to a summit to discuss ideas. more...

Contracts set to expire like dominoes

May 27, 2008 Sudbury Star: It's never happened before - score after score of Ontario public sector contracts set to expire one after another over the next 16 months like a big set of dominoes. more...

Strike continues in Owen Sound

May 21, 2008 CFOS: OPSEU says its negotiators are set to return to the bargaining table to represent the 27 clerical and office staff who hit the picket line May 1st. More…

For more information, see the Grey Bruce Health Unit Strike Index

OPSEU President gets directly involved in strike

May 14, 2008

CFOS Owen Sound more...

CKNX Wingham more...

Ontario's home care system loses its way

May 14, 2008 Toronto Star: Carol Goar's short history of home care in Ontario shows a once-proud system in decline due to competitive bidding. more...

Privatization of the LCBO is no solution

May 12, 2008 St. Catharines Standard - Letter: The LCBO is a well-run business that belongs to the people of Ontario. Public ownership means the LCBO’s well-trained staff puts community safety ahead of the bottom line. more...

Hospital cuts bring LHINs under fire

May 9, 2008 Inside Toronto (Community News): On May 16, a plan to slash costs at Rouge Valley Health System will land before Ontario Superior Court. more..

Colleagues show support for striking health unit workers

May 9 2008 Owen Sound Sun Times: Striking Grey Bruce Health Unit workers got a boost from other area public service unions Thursday. more..

We're all in the same boat

May 3, 2008 Globe and Mail - Economists used to say that "a rising tide lifts all boats," but the latest StatsCan report tells a different story. more...

Clerical workers could strike if talks fail today

April 30, 2008 Owen Sound Sun Times - With wages at about $35,000 per year, clerical workers at the Grey Bruce Health Unit plan to strike May 1 if talks today fail to produce an agreement. More...

"Now more than ever"

April 29, 2008 St. Thomas Times-Journal OPSEU members participate in the Day of Mourning memorial ceremony at Pinafore Park in St. Thomas. The monument (pictured in this article) was created by David Morris, an OPSEU member. more...

Part-time college workers to unionize

Windsor Star - Ontario's part-time college workers are poised to join the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, allowing them the same collective bargaining rights as their full-time unionized colleagues. More...

Pickets planned at arbitration talks

April 17, 2008 St. Thomas Times-Journal : Members of Ontario Public Service Employees Union Local 152 at St. Joseph’s Healthcare in London and St. Thomas plan to picket Thursday and Friday as arbitration talks are to be held regarding pay increases holding a master’s degree in social work. More...

Loyalist part-timers have high union hopes

Part-time college staffers launch Ontario's largest union drive

April 14 2008 Toronto Star OPSEU applying for right to represent 12,000 workers. More....

OPSEU threatening legal injunction over cuts

April 11, 2008 Community News (Scarborough, Durham) An escalating battle between Rouge Valley Health System, hospital workers about to lose their jobs and the provincial government reached a fever pitch Thursday. more...

OPSEU favours Dofasco model

March 27, 2008 Hamilton Spectator - "We are impatient to get to the bargaining table," said Roger Couvrette, president of OPSEU's part-time and sessional workers' organization. More...

OPSEU to honour Earth Hour

March 18, 2008 Kingston Whig Standard - OPSEU is turning off its lights in a show of support for Earth Hour. more...
For more information on OPSEU's involvement, visit our
Greening OPSEU site.

Part-timers talk first contract

March 17, 2008 Sudbury Star: Now that the Ontario government has recognized the right of part-time and support staff at the province's 24 community colleges to unionize, the workers are "very impatient to get to the bargaining table. more...

Drumming up support

March 11, 2008 Welland Tribune Part-time and sessional employees at Niagara College have a big name supporting their right to be unionized. more...

ODSP Day of Action - March 5, 2008 news stories

For a complete listing of news coverage from the ODSP Day of Action, click here.

OPSEU reaches out to part-timers at St. Lawrence in Cornwall

February 22, 2008 Standard Freeholder: Part-time employees at the Cornwall campus of St. Lawrence College are being asked to join in the largest union organizing drive in Ontario's history. more...

Largest Union Drive” stops by St. Lawrence College

February 20, 2008 Kingston This Week: Board members of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) rolled into St. Lawrence College with a blue bus Tuesday, Feb. 19. more...

St. Lawrence College staff may unionize

February 19, 2008 Whig Standard – Kingston: The province's largest public-sector union wants to unionize part-time workers at the three campuses of St. Lawrence College. more...

Thomas on BNN panel: Public sector workers provide full value

February 14, 2008 OPSEU President Smokey Thomas appeared on BNN’s program SqueezePlay on Feb. 13, 2008. Smokey comments on OPS bargaining, productivity, and the value of public services. more..

Note: This is a 47-minute show -- Smokey appears from about 18th to the 25th minute. So to view only that segment, you can click and drag the little circle just right of the words “full screen” about a third of the way.

OPSEU rolls into Barrie to sign up college workers

February 13 2008 Barrie Examiner - Locals 349 and 350 of the Ontario Public Service Employees union staged a Winter Semester Welcome for all faculty and support staff at Georgian College's Barrie campus this morning in effort to sign up part-time workers. more...

OPSEU leader calls for bargaining rights for college part-time staff

February 12, 2008 London Topic: Warren (Smokey) Thomas, President of OPSEU, said the call for the province to "move quickly to establish a legislative framework for part-time and sessional workers to take part in collective bargaining," is in response to the Whitaker Report. more...

College workers call for union rights as administrators meet in London

February 12, 2008 London Free Press - In London yesterday, union representatives were pitching the need to organize part-time teaching and support staff, while 500 Ontario community college leaders were meeting a block away at the London Convention Centre. more...

Protestors greet college administrators in London

February 11, 2008 London Free Press: As Ontario college administrators rolled into London last night, protesters braved bitter cold to support a union drive to sign up part-time college teachers and support staff. more...

Halton paramedics reach impasse; contract talks going to mediation

February 8, 2008 Burlington Post - Contract talks for Halton paramedics have broken down and are headed for mediation, with wage and benefit parity cited as key issues. . more...

Brockville: OPSEU recruits part-timers at college

February 7, 2008 Brockville Recorder and Times - Part-time college workers are the target of a travelling recruitment drive by OPSEU at Brockville's St. Lawrence College. more...

Brockville: Maple View Lodge workers endorse OPSEU

January 31, 2008 Brockville Recorder and Times
Workers at Maple View Lodge voted yesterday to be represented by OPSEU, although the certification bid might head to the province's labour board before it is decided. more...

OPSEU eyes part-time college staff

January 30, 2008 Timmins Daily Press Spurred by an historic Supreme Court of Canada decision, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union says it is kicking its membership drive into "high gear" this week. more...

OPSEU fights for part-time employees at Durham College

January 29, 2008 Two hundred part-time teachers and support staff at Durham College are being included in one of the largest union membership drives in Ontario history. more...

College organizing bus visits Durham

January 25, 2008 The OPSEU college part-time campaign met the media in Whitby today, and toured Durham College

College organizing bus visits Peterborough

January 24, 2008 Peterborough Examiner OPSEU seeks to represent 12,500 part-timers. more...

More than 1,500 pack hall to back caregivers

January 17, 2008 Hamilton Spectator: 1,500 pack hall to back VON, St. Joe’s caregivers more...

Staff appreciation day in Developmental Services

Lives Lived: Kathleen Lawrence

September 20, 2007 Mediator, traveller, nature enthusiast, cat aficionado, devoted partner. Born Jan. 11, 1951, in Ottawa. Died July 16 in Toronto of cancer, aged 56.

Commissioner "living in a dream world"

September 10, 2007 Toronto Star - OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas responds to the Ontario Human Rights Commissioner. More…

Talks stall for Peel paramedics

No new contract for paramedics
August 31, 2007 Mississauga News - Negotiations have broken down between Peel and the Ontario Public Service Employees' Union

Children's Aid Societies

August 27, 2007 Following are links to news stories about the first day of strike action at York Region Children’s Aid Society.

Developmental Services

Save Ontario Parks

Ontario Public Service

Province continues to abandon Provincial Parks

July 19, 2007 North Bay Nugget Park becomes battleground for Ministry, Union

Developmental Services

Hampton boosts pickets, blasts MPP pay raise

July 13, 2007 London Free Press Hampton blasts Premier’s pay raise as caregivers strike

July 13, 2007 Ancaster News Consultants sound alarm on emergency response times

July 13, 2007 Belleville Intelligencer Community Living staff on the verge of a strike

Underfunding means high staff turnover at Kenora Community Living agency

July 5, 2007, Chatham Daily News Chatham Kent Mayor Randy Hope wants a resolution

July 5, 2007 St Thomas Times Journal Quiet day in St. Thomas – busy day in London

July 3, 2007 CKNX Radio, Wingham HARC workers in Hanover could strike July 18th

OPSEU in the News

Archive: Feb 2007 - July 30 2008

Physiotherapy change called a concern for all

Union says ‘stench lingers’ at superjail in Penetang

Doctors join OPSEU’s fight against private clinic in Kincardine

Windsor group home slated to close – union protest planned today

Union challenges Rouge Valley cutbacks

Striking Workers call offer an insult

Profile: Eric Morin elected OPS bargaining chair

Thunder Bay hospital faces more charges for fire code violations

Legislation needed to stop violence in social/community work sectors

Home health care in crisis

CMHA workers hold info picket

Funding freeze leads to KidsAbility layoffs

Thomas: Where is the Premier’s plan?

Contracts set to expire like dominoes

Strike continues in Owen Sound

OPSEU President gets directly involved in strike

Ontario's home care system loses its way

Privatization of the LCBO is no solution

Hospital cuts bring LHINs under fire

Colleagues show support for striking health unit workers

We're all in the same boat

Clerical workers could strike if talks fail today

"Now more than ever"

Part-time college workers to unionize

Pickets planned at arbitration talks

Loyalist part-timers have high union hopes

Part-time college staffers launch Ontario's largest union drive

OPSEU threatening legal injunction over cuts

OPSEU favours Dofasco model

OPSEU to honour Earth Hour

Part-timers talk first contract

Drumming up support

ODSP Day of Action - March 5, 2008 news stories

For a complete listing of news coverage from the ODSP Day of Action, click here.

OPSEU reaches out to part-timers at St. Lawrence in Cornwall

Largest Union Drive” stops by St. Lawrence College

St. Lawrence College staff may unionize

Thomas on BNN panel: Public sector workers provide full value

OPSEU rolls into Barrie to sign up college workers

OPSEU leader calls for bargaining rights for college part-time staff

College workers call for union rights as administrators meet in London

Protestors greet college administrators in London

Halton paramedics reach impasse; contract talks going to mediation

Brockville: OPSEU recruits part-timers at college

Brockville: Maple View Lodge workers endorse OPSEU

OPSEU eyes part-time college staff

OPSEU fights for part-time employees at Durham College

College organizing bus visits Durham

College organizing bus visits Peterborough

More than 1,500 pack hall to back caregivers

Staff appreciation day in Developmental Services

Lives Lived: Kathleen Lawrence

Commissioner "living in a dream world"

Talks stall for Peel paramedics

Children's Aid Societies

Developmental Services

Save Ontario Parks

Ontario Public Service

Province continues to abandon Provincial Parks

Developmental Services

Hampton boosts pickets, blasts MPP pay raise

Underfunding means high staff turnover at Kenora Community Living agency

Corrections

Developmental Services

Working conditions of part time profs said to lessen quality

Part-time college teachers do not have right to union membership: report

Prof strives to change law

Part-time college staff seek to form union