Issue #10 November 15, 2001
Essential services keep on rolling
There is no real news this week at the bargaining table as essential service negotiations continue. The management team persists on tabling changes, and we are expending a lot of time verifying the information we have received.
Attendance high at local meetings
We are encouraged that attendance at local meetings continues to remain high. Our team has been given a big boost by the thoughtful questions and supportive comments we have received. The members have made it clear that they will do whatever it takes to get a great contract!
Unclassified working group meets
The Unclassified Working Group met this week to discuss issues around their mobilization plan. Unclassified members represent 30 per cent of the Ontario Public Service, and their involvement will have a significant impact on negotiations in this round. Darwin Lacelle, Marg Simmons and Mark Kotanen attended the
meeting along with OPSEU president Leah Casselman.
Meet your team members
 Laurie Chapman, Central Team Member
The driving force behind communications from the Central Table, Laurie Chapman is on familiar turf when it comes to telling the members what is happening.
Known across the province for her role as editor of the OPSEU activists’ newsletter, In Solidarity, Laurie is the president of Local 323 at the Huronia Regional Centre in Orillia. Having also filled the positions of steward, treasurer and chief steward at the local, Laurie has not confined her activism to the
workplace. She also serves on the Orillia and Muskoka Labour Council, and is chair of the Orillia Service Area area council.
Elected to represent Region 3 at the bargaining table, Laurie quickly realized that she is now representing the entire province along with her 12 other teammates.
So what does Laurie think of bargaining so far?
“It has been extremely frustrating listening to management and their ‘experts’ presenting what they perceive as our work,” Laurie said. “We actually do the work - we know what we do and how it’s done. It is tough to sit still when the employer is completely off base.”
Offsetting the frustration has been the encouragement from the members and learning about the many roles in the public service.
“It has been amazing to get such an insight into others’ work from the resource members we have brought in,” Laurie said. “The encouragement we have received from members to stay the course and get a great contract has been invaluable.
Laurie is grateful to Region 3 for giving her the opportunity to participate in the bargaining process. “I’m thankful for the members’ confidence in having me represent them and hope to continue meeting more members in the region.”
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@home.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@home.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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