This week we continue to wait for the employer to table the rest of the documents relating to essential services as we wade through the paperwork which has already been received. We are anticipating moving forward with arbitrated disputes, and we are still hoping to have what we need by the end of this week so we can move forward.

Members of the Central Team may be flooding you with phone calls when we get the rest of the documents. If we still don't have a contact number for you, please contact the Central Team.

We’re also continuing to bring in resources to assist us with documents tabled by the employer. Former Region 6 bargaining team member Beth Anich of Local 601 has been quite valuable as she wades her way through the Ontario Disability Support Plan paperwork and other Office Administration documents.

We continue to attend local meetings as we are invited. Team members are very impressed with the turnout at those meetings. The number of locals represented at larger meeting is quite amazing. Keep up the great work. Member involvement is the key to success!

The Central Team has been blessed with two members who are just a short step away from Hollywood North. In Kingston this past weekend, director Jeff Bendig and star actress Marg Simmons showed their amazing thespian skills and demonstrated via Bristol board just how members will be affected by contract concessions. The performance will be coming soon to select theatres.

The weekend mobilization workshops are producing some great ideas for member involvement. Here are a few:

Local 340 is designing buttons to be worn in the workplace. Their members sport a new one every few weeks. They've also created bright yellow armbands with their local number and OPSEU logo emblazoned in blue. Wow!

Members are also bringing food and canned goods to their locals, and then taking it to the Regional offices every Friday for storage in the event it’s needed. This is a very visible tactic to show everyone that the members are ready. If the food isn’t required, it makes a great donation to the local food banks.

It is with mixed emotion that we say goodbye to Mike Harris. Amid our rejoicing, we’re disappointed that he may somehow not be held accountable for all of the destruction he has caused to public services and people’s lives. His timing is impeccable considering the implications of Walkerton and Ipperwash.

Despite a new leader being chosen, we must not get complacent and believe that things will get better under a new Conservative premier. Tory policies haven't changed, and it’s doubtful that the Tory agenda will change. Our fight continues, more now than ever.

Jim Roland, Central Team Member

The Central Team’s “Man in Black,” Jim Roland has been a registered nurse practitioner (RPN) at Lakehead Psychiatric Hospital in Thunder Bay since 1980. A steward since 1982, Jim currently holds the position of Local 720 vice-president.

Jim has been on OPS bargaining teams since 1988, with the exception of the 1996 round. Jim was the vice-chair of the “Team of 56” in the 1991-1993 round, and out of this became a member of the social contract team.

“After more than 23 years with OPSEU, I have watched this union mature along with the members,” Jim said. “We have become much more knowledgeable about the contract and a lot more active.”

Jim hopes that OPSEU members will grow more comfortable bargaining in a right to strike environment.

“Future members will become even more active,” Jim said. “We will go from being afraid of the word strike, to having a strike vote in our hands when we sit down at the bargaining table.”

Jim does have a life outside of OPSEU. That life includes Jim’s 1999 Harley Davidson Sportster motorcycle, which will help him replace bargaining with a tour of the country.

Jim makes it very clear that this will be his last time on an OPS bargaining team. He plans to retire in 2004. He wants the next collective agreement to be the best one we can get.

Last week the Real Deal mistakenly identified Mark Kotanen as the vice-chair of the Corrections MERC Team. Dave Graves is the vice-chair of that team, and Mark is a member. We apologize for the error.

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) 328-5147 (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 is authorized for distribution by Marg Simmons, chair, Central team, and Leah Casselman, president.

Download October 18, 2001 Issue of The Real Deal .