Message of support

Hi! My name is Michelle and I'm the youngest daughter of Brother Pierre Verhelst, the president of Local 605 and the Region 6 Sault Ste. Marie Service Area Mobilizer. I'm a grade 8 student. I enjoy participating in an indoor soccer league, and proudly serve my country as a corporal and Highland dancer with the 155 "Borden Gray G.C." Royal Canadian Air Cadets squadron.

Dad says I've been his favourite "Office Administrator" because of the important work I've done to help him meet deadlines. I've prepared t-shirt and coffee mug orders, made photocopies, and sorted hundreds of Trillium cards for the displays behind me. Dad tells me his hard working union sisters and brothers in the Office Administration (OAD) classification group were recently recognized as OPSEU's largest group. He also told me their work is often taken for granted and overlooked, and what's really frightening, is that they are underpaid because of class standards that were developed during our last century. 

I certainly enjoyed helping my Dad and sure hope the OAD situation improves so I too can someday aspire to serve with pride the citizens of Ontario as an OAD member. For now I raise my cup to all of OPSEU's Office Administration sisters and brothers, and hope all OPSEU members unconditionally stand behind their bargaining teams so they can negotiate a fair and reasonable offer for them!

In solidarity,

Michelle