Hundreds of OPSEU members tell Liberal Leadership delegates to vote for 99%

January 28, 2013

OPSEU members from all over Ontario converged on the Ontario Liberal Leadership Convention early on Saturday, January 26. As the sun rose over Maple Leaf Gardens on this chilly January morning, Liberal delegates were greeted by union chants, speakers blasting labour tunes and OPSEU flags.

CP24 caught OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas, Vice-President/Treasurer Eduardo (Eddy) Almeida and EBM Nancy Pridham live on their 7:00 and 7:30 am spots, followed by CTV National coverage and appearances on City TV, CBC and Radio Canada.

OPSEU made their message clear to the Liberal leadership contenders as they arrived with their sign-toting supporters:  It is time for a new kind of Premier who will stand up for the 99 per cent. OPSEU members became more and more vocal as Wynne, Pupatello, Sousa and other key delegates squeezed through the crowd trying to get to the doors. Favourite chants included "Let the third party through!" and "Never forgive, never forget."

Energy bolstered with hot coffee and doughnuts, OPSEU members caught buses to Toronto starting as early as 2 am. They came from all over the province: from Sudbury to Orillia, Barrie, Kingston, Ottawa, Peterborough and Oshawa.

Toronto's Region 5 office hosted a welcoming pancake breakfast after the 9 am finale. Spirits were high as best stories were shared and EBMs served up masses of hot food to the chilled and hungry crowd.