Bargaining News
November 4 kick-off events mark start of OPS bargaining!
Nov. 3 and 4 kick-off events
After months of preparations, OPS bargaining teams will meet
with the employer for the first time on Tuesday, Nov. 4 to start talks for
the new OPS collective agreement. Members across Ontario are urged to show
their support for our bargaining teams at events around the province.
“A strong, collective agreement starts with a demonstration
of strength from our members,” said OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas.
“It’s imperative right from Day One that we show the employer we won’t
accept anything less than a collective agreement that makes gains on the OPS
contract.”
Thomas said he knows from first-hand experience the
significance of membership solidarity on the eve of bargaining – especially
when negotiations take place in economic tough times.
“Now is the time to strengthen public services to offset the
downturn in the private sector, and we’re going to be hammering away at that
point. Communities and working families are suffering. We’re not embarrassed
about asking for improvements in wages and working conditions, because a
strong economy starts with strong, good-paying jobs that support communities
and local businesses.”
The slogan for this round of bargaining is “My job. Your
services. Our communities.” This slogan is printed inside a blue trillium,
representing the government services members provide. The trillium logo
appears on t-shirts, stickers and cards that all members will be asked to
sign and hand back to their stewards.
Eric Morin, chair of the central bargaining team, echoed
Thomas’ call for member solidarity.
“Neither the government nor our members should feel the
economy can be fixed on the back of the Ontario Public Service,’ Morin said.
“On October 2, the Premier said that the OPS wants to attract and keep the
‘brightest and the best.’ He also recognized the ‘dedication,
professionalism and passion’ of our members. That should translate into a
fair and reasonable settlement for OPS members, and we will ask for nothing
more…or less.”
David Kerr, Chair of the Corrections Bargaining team, said
that the team is ready to go.
“For the past seven weeks the Corrections team has been
preparing a table position to give to the employer on November 4,” Kerr
said. “We know that, when called upon, members of the Corrections bargaining
unit will respond to the team’s requests. At this point time we are not
asking for any acting managers to step down, but there will be planned and
strategic actions which we will ask members to participate in. The
Corrections Bargaining Unit has always stood firm during bargaining, with
the results to prove it.”
The Nov. 4 bargaining kick-off events across Ontario will
take place at different times of the day and will offer members free coffee
and donuts, light refreshments and, in some cases, noontime BBQs.
Toronto will have an advance preview of the kick-off events.
Nov. 3, the day before they go into bargaining, the Central and Corrections
Bargaining Teams and President Thomas will celebrate with members at a
lunchtime event at the Downsview government complex in the north end of the
city. Apart from the Nov. 3 pre-bargaining kick-off in Toronto, and similar
kick-off events around the province on Nov. 4, there will be additional
opportunities for OPS members to show their solidarity with the bargaining
team. On those days the teams strongly urge all members to wear trillium
stickers or t-shirts to say we’re standing tough and together throughout
these negotiations.
There are 42,000 OPSEU members in 5,000 worksites in 276
communities across the province. The OPS contract expires Dec. 31, 2008.
Nov. 3 and 4 kick-off events
