“What a great day!” -
Thousands participate in OAD Recognition Day
“What a great day”, is how many members,
mobilizers and local leaders are describing the day that was
about was all about recognizing the contribution of 16,000 OPSEU
members in the Office Administration (OAD) classification to
excellent public service.
Events were held across the province, with
17,000 blue OPSEU mugs, 20,000 “Respect” buttons and 10,000
“Respect” stickers distributed to members. Events were varied,
and OAD members were very appreciative for the show of support.
This day could not have been a success without
the phenomenal organizing of the regional mobilizers, local
executives, the provincial OAD mobilizer, the leadership of the
bargaining teams and support of the Executive Board Members.
Photos of the events will be available on the
OPSEU website.
Central/Unified talks continue, trouble brewing in
Corrections
Talks continue to progress at
the Central and Unified tables. However, things are not that
smooth at the Corrections table.
This past week the employer has
discussed with the Corrections bargaining team a “Wall to Wall”
bargaining unit, which would bring hundreds of non-correctional
positions into the bargaining unit. This is one of the many
takeaways the employer has proposed, and the Correctional
bargaining team is outraged with the re-structuring of our
bargaining category. Three members of the current Correctional
Bargaining Team were involved in a wildcat strike in 1979 which
established a separate Corrections bargaining category.
David Kerr, Chair of the
Corrections Team, says, “It took a wildcat strike in 1979 to
achieve a separate category for the Corrections bargaining unit,
we are not about to negotiate it away 29 years later”
The Correctional bargaining team
is encouraged by the member support it is receiving and will
continue its struggle to ensure all members of our category get
the type of collective agreement improvements we all deserve.
Correctional Bargaining Team “Quote of the
week”
“An employer who makes enemies
with their Correctional Officers had better get used making
friends with their criminals.”
Know what’s on the table
Part of the employer’s opening
position is the removal of eye exams and rest breaks for VDT
operators.
The actual proposal reads:
“Given the technological improvements, delete article pertaining
to Video Display Terminals (VDTs) and corresponding rest breaks
and eye exam benefit.”
It’s funny; the teams have never
seen a study that says VDT displays are now perfectly safe. Or
that all OPS worksites have the latest equipment. Yet the
employer wants to remove this benefit, just like they did in the
last round of bargaining.
Translation? Removal of this
benefit has nothing to do with “technological improvements.” It
has everything to do with the employer trying to save money – at
the expense of your eyesight.
And no one is willing to pay
that price.
Mark Dec. 10 on your
calendar
Dec. 10 is “Fight For Your Rights” Day for the
thousands of unclassified members of the OPS.
Events will be scheduled across the province,
with a large event scheduled for Toronto at 25 Grosvenor St.,
beginning at noon.
OPS mobilizers will be getting specific
information out to locals. Also, watch the OPSEU website for
more details.
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