|
On strike: Final edition. Thanks to all contributors
May 3, 2002
Tentative deal signed
This issue of Frontlines has the headline people have been hoping for through the days and weeks of walking in the sun and rain and snow.
The detailed information on the settlement is in another publication - Table Talk. It spells out just exactly what has been achieved at the bargaining table. We’re not going to repeat it here.
The 45 issues of this daily bulletin have painted a picture of a strike and drawn the outlines of a vibrant and living community.
It could not have happened without a number of things. The email and internet technology that sped birth announcements and picket line successes across the province at the speed of light was new for this strike.
The dozens of people in locals across the province who put together their own daily and weekly news sheets provided this journal with a lot of its raw material.
From individuals came letters and poems, questions and answers, moments of raw emotion and incidents of courage and determination.
We’ve shared knowledge about each others’ work and the many, varied and vital jobs that we do on behalf of the citizens of the province. We’ve learned how much we have in common, and how diverse we are in so many ways.
People from all aspects of the government’s operations, people from every community in the province, people who work in offices with computers and people who work in the great outdoors all came together to fight for a decent contract.
They shared their stories on their own picket lines and they shared them across the lines. And in the process they created a community called OPSEU. It’s not a new community, but it has a renewed vision and understanding of itself. And a new strength.
‘No discipline’ clause covers period of strike
Under the back to work protocol, the employer has agreed to drop all court and labour-relations charges that occurred during the strike.
Except where criminal charges are laid, there will be no discipline taken for actions that occurred during the strike.
The return to work protocol does not cover the period between the signing of the tentative agreement and the return to work, so members are not protected from potential discipline during this interval.
Disputes which arose during the strike, over pay for essential workers, grievances and other labour relations issues will be dealt with after ratification.
Ulterior motives for OPSEU clothing?
As my 13-year-old son, Robert MacKay, went off to school again, I felt a sense of pride in his support for me being on strike.
This is the second day he has chosen clothing emblazoned with OPSEU’s logo. It may also be support for a teacher whose husband is in the OPSEU strike or there may be ulterior motives.
Allowances for Robert and his sister were one of the first things to be cut when I went on strike, so he knows mom going back to work means an allowance again.
- Ruth Galinis, Local 601
The last welcome?
“Long overdue, just like the end to this strike.”
That’s how proud dad described the arrival of Ethan Rudy Heino on Apr 26 at 10:39 pm. He weighed in at 9.2 lbs and already 22.5 inches tall.
Ethan Rudy’s dad is Paul Heino of Local 701, ambulance dispatch in Thunder Bay.
Check the web: www.opseu.org has the latest on everything.
Original approved for publication by Leah Casselman, President
Frontlines Index Page |
..gif){kind=small}