OPS members
engaged, ready
to take action
 More
than 22,000 OPS
members have met
with their
bargaining heads
and OPSEU
president Warren
(Smokey) Thomas
by phone and
overwhelmingly
voted to take
action to back
their bargaining
teams.
“Employers will
only give up as
much as they
have to give up
to avoid a
strike,” said
Thomas. “What
I’m hearing is a
very high level
of engagement
and I think
we’re going back
to the
bargaining table
empowered to
drive a better
deal.”
Roxanne Barnes
and Dan
Sidsworth,
bargaining team
chairs for
central/unified
and corrections,
emphasized the
value of the
direct
communication
they had with
members during
the November 28
and 29 Telephone
Town Hall
meetings.
“This is a great
tool to take
back to the
bargaining
table,” said
Sidsworth. “We
have never had
the opportunity
to speak
directly to so
many members at
one time during
bargaining.”
Callers asked
questions and
heard their
co-workers’
questions and
concerns. They
drilled down to
the core issues
in bargaining
for quality
public services,
safe and secure
workplaces, and
to prevent
privatization.
Over the two
nights, there
was a strong
tide of concern
about employer
demands for cuts
to benefits and
short-term sick
pay, capped
termination pay,
an end to
surplus factor
80, and two-tier
wages and
termination pay.
“By using direct
communications
with the members
and a great team
of mobilizers
out there
working with the
members,” said
Barnes, “the
bargaining teams
are able to look
across the table
to the employer
and say: ‘This
is what our
members are
saying. And this
is what they’re
prepared to do
to hold their
ground.’ The
members are
there and with
their help, we
can make a
difference.”
The Ontario
government’s
attack on public
structures and
public service
workers is
political, said
Thomas. “And the
solution is
political.”
Members need to
make their
voices heard in
social media and
public forums,
he said.
“If there’s one
place where we
do have
influence, it’s
in the political
arena. They
(employer and
government) can
be backed off
and backed
down.”
OPS Bargaining 2012 Index
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