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August 9, 2002
Pension surveys in the mail
The last of the pension surveys was mailed out to members and pensioners covered by the OPSEU Pension Trust (OPT) on July 31.
The huge mailing to about 70,000 people took some time to send out, but everyone should have received one by now.
Because of mailing delays, the deadline for returns has been extended to Aug. 21.
Survey results should be sent to OPSEU in the enclosed envelope. They should not be returned to the OPT.
If you have not received a copy of the survey, it is probably because the OPT doesn’t have your correct address.
You can get a copy by calling the OPT. Members in the 416 area code can call 416-681-6100. Outside the Toronto area, the toll-free number is 1-800-637-0024. All staff answering the phones have been trained to answer your questions and make sure that you have a survey.
You can’t just copy someone else’s survey and send it in because the surveys are coded to make sure nobody answers more than once, and that only people entitled to be included get a copy.
Tabulation of the results will be completely anonymous.
There is more information on the OPT website at www.optrust.com.
When will we see the raise?
OPSEU’s grievance over the failure to pay up expeditiously went before an arbitrator July 31.
The employer led off with a series of preliminary objections, which serve to delay the process, and finally asked for an adjournment. The arbitrator denied the adjournment, but the first available date for a hearing is in October.
By that time, even the government’s statements say the money will be paid. But the union will be arguing for interest on the backpay.
In the meantime, continued lobbying on the Pay Up Now front will help encourage faster action. The legal process is always a slow and dragged-out means of achieving justice. See the letter at the right for an indication of the kind of thing that members are doing to draw attention to this
foot-dragging.
OPSEU agrees, what the government is doing is not good enough.
OPSEU dues are a percentage
OPSEU’s current dues rate is 1.575 per cent of pay. When people’s pay is increased, their dues go up by the same amount.
This includes the special levy instituted by the 2002 Convention to repay the strike fund, which was drained by the OPS strike.
The dues rate will revert to 1.375 per cent when the assets in the strike fund hit $30 million. That will take about two-and-a-half to three years, assuming no major strikes.
Keeping the heat on
Dear Rosario Marchese, MPP:
After freezing on the picket line for seven weeks, and back to work since early May, we OPSEU members still have not received the pay increase agreed to in the new agreement.
The employer says Oct. 7 is the earliest estimated time they can deal with it. They do not promise that anything will in fact be done on or before or after that date or on any specific date.
Can you help get some focus on this matter, please?
Rodger Lucas, Local 546
Check the web: www.opseu.org has the latest on everything.
Original authorized for distribution by Leah Casselman, President
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