Issue #20 January 31, 2002
Conciliators appointed, Presidents’ meeting scheduled
As reported in last week’s Real Deal, your bargaining team has applied for conciliation due to the employer’s failure to satisfactorily address our bargaining proposals. As a result of this, certain timelines will begin to take shape.
We have been informed that two conciliators have been assigned to the Central Team. The conciliators’ role is to assist the parties, but they do not have the power to impose a settlement on either party.
We have scheduled a meeting for all OPS Local Presidents for Saturday, February 16, 2002. At that time we will update you on the bargaining situation and discuss the next steps in the process. It is very important that your local is represented. We ask that locals with a local president who is not a member of the
OPS send the next highest-ranking officer who is an OPS member.
Executive board members and union co-chairs of OPS Ministry Employee Relations Committees are also invited.
The meeting will be held in Toronto at the Holiday Inn, Leslie St. and Eglinton Avenue. Registration begins at 10:00 a.m.
Thanks to all ERCs
Thank you to everyone for supporting our decision to cancel all Employee Relations Committee meetings. As always, your solidarity is most appreciated.
Sign those cards
As a result of the article in last week’s Real Deal, many of you have contacted us wondering where to send your signed membership cards. You have several options. You can give them to your local steward, bring them to your Regional Office or mail them directly to Membership Services at OPSEU.
Region 4 to hold second set of “Inside strike” training courses
In Dec. 2001, Region 4 piloted the very successful “Inside strike” training course. On Saturday, Feb. 2, the Region will once again hold the training courses, and welcome an enthusiastic crowd of members who were unable to get into the pilot.
Did you know?
Did you know that if the employer were to give you all of the demands that you’ve asked for in this round of negotiations, the total cost of those improvements would still be less than the total amount of money that the Tories are giving as a tax break to those with children in private schools?
How does that make you feel about your value as an employee?
Secondary pickets legal
Recently, the Supreme Court of Canada upheld that picketing at locations other than the employer’s premises was legal. The court recognizes that “a strike is not a tea-party and it may have consequential impacts on associated interests which cannot be met or disposed of overnight.” They also go on to say
that; “all picketing is allowed, whether primary or secondary, unless it involves tortious or criminal conduct.”
Watch for more information on how this ruling will affect us in the event of a dispute.
Unclassifieds continue to mobilize
Unclassified members are attending meetings in great numbers. Organizers are delighted with the enthusiasm, knowledge of the issues and the support being offered to us at the bargaining table.
The Unclassified Mobilization Unit continues to assist members from the Ministry of the Attorney General with group conversion grievances. These grievances are being filed across the province, and conversions are already starting to happen. If you would like information about these grievances, please contact the
Unclassified Mobilization Unit at 1-800-268-7376 or (416) 443-8888, ext. 382.
Keep up the good work and remember: strong support for your bargaining team will produce positive results for you in this round of bargaining!
Continue to attend mobilizing meetings for the latest updates.
Are my essential service agreements complete?
If you have questions about whether your essential service agreements are complete, please contact Janet Wright, OPSEU Head Office at 1-800-268-7376 or (416) 443-8888.
Quote of the week
“When you say fiscal responsibility, it seems to me that you really mean rich people keeping their money.” - Alice Adams, Listening to Billie, 1978
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) 364-7580 (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.
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