December 2001 Article 7

Are you ready?
Five things you can do to get ready for bargaining

1. Get connected!

Do you know an OPSEU person in your workplace who provides you with information about bargaining? If not, you should.

Plug yourself in to your Local. Talk to someone from your Local Executive about how to do that. If there is no one in charge of communication between your area and the Local, volunteer! You don’t have to be a steward to play a key role in letting your co-workers know what’s going on – and letting your bargaining teams know what your co-workers are saying. You just have to do one thing: communicate.

2. Save your money.

Your bargaining teams are bargaining a contract, not a strike. But in the event of a strike or lockout, you’ll want an extra cushion on top of your strike pay. Money is always scarce, but if you can delay any expenditures, delay them. If there is no strike or lockout, you can spend it all at once when bargaining is over.

There are many ways to get ready. For example, you could contact your bank, credit union, landlord, or daycare provider to discuss your options well in advance of a work stoppage.

3. Unclassified? Get converted!

If you are an unclassified worker, now is the perfect time to see if you are already eligible for a classified job. Right now, Article 31.15 of your OPSEU contract says that unclassified workers who work for two consecutive years may be entitled to be converted to classified status. Talk to your steward about your rights.

4. Talk it up: “You support me,   I support you”

Talking to your co-workers about bargaining is very important.

Everyone has different improvements that they want to see in the next contract. There is one, and only one, way that all OPSEU members can make progress no matter what their issue: mutual support. “You support me, I support you” is the way to go.

5. Take action!

All action around bargaining is about letting your employer know that you are serious. This could be something as simple as wearing a button, or getting all your co-workers to wear one on the same day. It could be an information picket.

For help, contact your Local Executive Committee, your OPSEU regional office, or the OPS mobilization hotline at 1-877-561-8692.

Whatever you do – or don’t do – you can be sure that the employer bargaining teams will hear about it.

OPS mobilization hotline: 1-877-561-8692

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