Now
it’s up to the employer
Bargaining
continued at the Central/Unified table this week as the teams
tried to work through as many issues as possible prior to the
Dec. 23 deadline.
Late Friday, the
teams tabled a comprehensive package with the employer. This
package incorporated all outstanding items on the
Central/Unified table with the union’s demands for resolution.
The employer has
asked that they be given a few days to consider our offer. We
expect now to hear from the employer on Monday, Dec. 22.
The teams thank
the members for continuing to show strength and solidarity in
the workplace. Now, just ignore the rumours and have a good
weekend. We will report again as soon as possible.
Corrections asks for actions to continue
This past week the Corrections Team has been
dealing with an employer who is intent on stripping our member’s
rights away. We are aware our mandate is to negotiate
improvements to our collective agreement for all members and
classifications within our bargaining unit, and we are anxious
to move onto the demands set by the members.
However, the employer is still seeking to
extremely limit our members’ rights to sick leave, eligibility
to earn overtime and cut weekend premiums. The Corrections Team
has signed an agreement to bring the sick leave proposals to our
table; this will allow only OUR members to vote on OUR sick
time.
It is imperative that member actions continue
across the province. These actions will send a clear message to
the employer that this bargaining unit will not stand idly by as
our rights and entitlements are stripped.
“This bargaining unit has a history of standing
up to the employer,” says Paul Johnstone, Region 2 member. “This
has allowed the bargaining team in previous rounds to make gains
for our members. I am confident at this time we will continue to
receive the support of our members so we can fight off these
archaic takeaways.”
In the next week, local presidents can
anticipate a phone call from their regional Corrections Team
representatives regarding bargaining developments.
Corrections Quote of the Week
“All
that is required for evil to triumph, is for good men to do
nothing”
Know
the issues
Issue sheets on the main employer bargaining
takeaways are now posted on the OPSEU website. The elimination
of termination pay accrual, Surplus Factor 80 and reasonable
efforts language are all concessions being demanded by the
employer.
You can access the issues sheets at
http://www.opseu.org/ops/barg2008/issue-sheets.htm Read the
information, and make sure you download the sheets and post them
in your workplace.
It’s your contract – know what’s at stake.
OPS mobilization gets busy and creative
The Central bargaining team asked for members to
show their visible support for a fair contract…and members
responded. Members were creative and many of the activities
revolved around the holiday theme. The 28 member mobilizers
report that interest is high in bargaining, and what follows is
just a selection of the many activities going on out there:
Locals in Belleville and Napanee produced
buttons that said “all I want for Christmas is a fair contract”
that are being proudly worn by members. Bake sales in support of
United Way are being organized by locals in London. “Our locals
are recruiting new stewards,” reports London mobilizer Jayne
Mackenzie. “The face-to-face contact with members makes all the
difference,” adds Kingston mobilizer Daryl O’Grady.
Local 618 members in Sudbury braved the cold and
snowy conditions Dec. 17 to put black ribbons on more than 60
vehicles. They also put placards on the back of cards demanding
a fair contract. More than 400 Christmas cards with the
stickers, “All I want for the holiday is a fair contract” will
be delivered to managers from OPSEU locals in Whitby and Oshawa.
More than 4,000 letters to Liberal MPPs have been signed by
Local 506 members in the greater Toronto area. Local 553 members
at the MOE lab in Toronto wore OPSEU scarves to show their
support.
“I had over 70 members in one previously
less-interested local sign an OPSEU placard,” says Toronto
mobilizer Ibrahim Bozai. “I’m being stopped wherever I go by
members, asking for information and expressing support for the
bargaining team to get a fair contract.” Sudbury mobilizer
Normand Pilon adds, “We’re reaching members that we never
normally see at meetings.”
Numerous pizza luncheons were hosted by locals
across both the northwest and northeast, while food drives and
monetary donations were organized by locals in Timmins, New
Liskeard, Kirkland Lake, Hearst, Geraldton, Gogama, Sudbury and
Sault Ste. Marie. More than $1,800 was raised by locals in
Sudbury alone. Members in Hearst also painted their faces blue
on Dec. 17.
Court reporters in Thunder Bay wore blue
extensions in their hair to show support for the team and as
part of their Day of Action, Dec. 16. Courthouses across the
province participated in the Day Of Action, including those in
Windsor, London, St. Catharines, St. Thomas, Toronto, Oshawa and
Thunder Bay. Court staff wore black ribbons or armbands to
express their mourning for the integrity of the record if the
Ministry of Attorney General’s plans for court reporting go
through. Members report a lot of support from defense counsel,
crowns and judges.
Mobilizers report that members are wearing OPSEU
blue and the “All I want for the holiday…” stickers when they
attend holiday parties or lunches with the employer. The issues
sheets are being posted in the workplaces.
Many locals have decorated their office
Christmas trees with OPSEU stickers and cards. Local 340 in
Oshawa participated in the employer’s “decorate a gingerbread
house” contest using OPSEU buttons, stickers and cards. Members
have made holiday deserts with the OPSEU theme. Hearst OPSEU
members made cookies with “OPSEU” on them and court staff in
Thunder Bay made OPSEU cupcakes.
A number of locals held very successful
information pickets this week, including Local 135 at the
Windsor Jail, Local 123 at the Sarnia Courthouse, Local 115 at
the St. Thomas Probation Office, Local 252 at the Niagara
Detention Centre and Local 234 at the Maplehurst Correctional
Centre and Vanier Centre for Women.
All these actions are giving the bargaining
teams the support they need at a critical time. Congratulations
to everyone!
For photos of these activities, please go to the
OPS bargaining photo gallery.
Original authorized for distribution:
Eric Morin, Chair
Central/Unified Team
David Kerr, Chair
Corrections Team
Warren (Smokey) Thomas, President
Ontario Public Service Employees Union
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