Your show of support on Monday was amazing. The police estimated attendance at around 10,000. While we marched up University Avenue, we were approached by many of you who repeatedly told us to stay the course and not give up. Your determination becomes our determination, and for that we thank you all from the bottom of our hearts.

In an article that appeared in the Canadian Press, Ernie Eves comments on the state of negotiations. Eves says that he will not enact back to work legislation, that the two sides are close to a deal, and that both sides should sit down and bargain in earnest. We agree!

However, Eves goes on to say that the employer tabled an offer with us last week (one with additions) and urges us to return to the table. Eves reports that David Tsubouchi has briefed him on these issues.

This is completely and totally false.

We can only conclude that Kevin Wilson, Assistant Deputy Minister, has not given Mr. Tsubouchi accurate information. Tsubouchi, in turn, is misleading our new Premier. The only other reason we can think of is confusion on Mr. Wilson’s part. In order for a new deal to be tabled, it must actually be given to the bargaining team. Just leaking it to the media is not sufficient.

We have not left the table. We have been here every day, and have made several moves from our original position. The employer remains entrenched at a 1.95 per cent wage increase, Term Classified language, benefit caps with few improvements, and no improvements for all of our unclassified members. And the employer still will not give up their asinine notion that they can somehow control the use of our share of pension surplus.

To date, the employer has not responded in whole to our last proposal. They have said that their principals are reviewing it. We suggest that members contact Mr. Eves and encourage him to review our proposal so that we can bargain in earnest.

A most unusual meeting took place today. Management met (presumably with themselves), reached a consensus, and then agreed on a four-month extension (with conditions), of our Factor 80 provision. The problem, of course, is that they forgot to invite us to that meeting.

We are still seeking a seven-month extension of Factor 80 to Oct. 31, 2002. The employer continues to have four conditions attached that go directly against the plan agreement and, quite frankly, they have no right to impose.

We chose arbitrators who have hearing dates available on Apr. 25 and May 2, but the employer has refused to accept them. It would appear that they are stalling on this issue.

Today, when the employer sat down with us to talk about their terms on a four-month extension, we were surprised to say the least. We have refused their offer and will proceed to arbitration seeking a seven-month extension for our members. We are not interested in their obnoxious conditions on how OPSEU members get to spend their own money.

You can contact the Central Team directly at (416) 815-1406, by fax at (416) 815-1412 or by e-mail at centralteam@opseu.org 

Marg Simmons
Chair, L. 263, (416) 815-1407

Mark Kotanen,
Vice-chair, L. 128, (519) 336-6926 (after hours) mkotanen@tct.net 

Jeff Bendig
L. 434, (613) 264-7580 (after hours), jeffbendig@hotmail.com 

Teri Breau-Auzins
L. 506, (416) 721-2767 (after hours), teriauzins@rogers.com 

Joseph Catroppa
L. 736, (807) 628-5147 (after hours), jncat@tbaytel.net 

Laurie Chapman
L. 323, (705) 323-8172 (after hours), lchapman@bconnex.net 

Michel Chaumont
L. 623, (705) 698-0567 (after hours),  chaumont@attcanada.net 

Darwin Lacelle
L. 447, 416 815 1406, dmlacell@nrtco.net

Steve Nield
L. 123, (519) 383-5643 (after hours)

Sandra Noad
L. 101, (519) 657-9518 (weekends), sanoad@rogers.com 

James Roland
L. 720, (807) 345-4609 (after hours), jimrol@hotmail.com 

Serge Valcourt
L. 634, (705) 497-4393 (after hours), opseu.634@sympatico.ca 

Peter Wall
L. 638, (416) 815-1406