Your bargaining team, after several attempts to negotiate, has made the decision to call for an offer and a “no board report.” An “offer” means that the conciliator, 48 hours from today (Feb. 12, 2002), will deliver the employer’s offer on every issue that we tabled with them on Dec. 18. A “no board
report” means that conciliation has failed, and that one party has recognized that we must move forward.
We did not make this decision lightly. We have had our demands before the employer for two full months. The employer has not made a wage offer nor have they responded to any other monetary issues that are before them.
We have said from the beginning that Management Board chief negotiator Kevin Wilson and his hired help would not bargain with us until we showed them that we were serious about our demands, about what we deserve, and about what our families deserve!
It’s time to show them what we’re made of. A strike mandate vote will take place on Feb. 26, 27, and 28. Locations of those votes will be finalized soon. Under Ontario law, and our 2001 “Conditions document”, the earliest possible legal strike or lockout deadline falls eight working days after completion of the vote. In
this case, that date is Mar. 13, 2002. During those eight working days, mediation will occur and hopefully real bargaining will take place. We have not set a strike deadline.
“We are here to negotiate on behalf of the OPS,” said Marg Simmons, chair of the Central Team. “We want to negotiate a collective agreement not a strike. Should we recommend that you reject the offer, we know that you will be with us and mark your ballot accordingly.”
Stay tuned for future developments in The Real Deal. Please continue to use this publication as your only source of real information.
Quote of the week
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” - Chinese proverb
How to contact your team members
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, (905) 844-5239 (after hours)
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, 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
The Real Deal is your only accurate source of Central Team information during this round of bargaining. If you don’t read it here, you can't be sure it's true. Don’t rely on gossip and rumours. We will provide the facts.
The Real Deal will be available by fax, by e-mail, and on the OPSEU web site at www.opseu.org. To receive it directly, send your secure fax number to Lesley Williams at (416) 443-1762 or send your e-mail address to
lwilliams@opseu.org .
The Real Deal is authorized for distribution by Marg Simmons, chair, Central team, and Leah Casselman, president.
.
.gif){kind=small}