Six new faces on OPSEU Board

Regional elections in March added six newcomers
to the union’s executive board. They were sworn
in during the 1999 Convention and took office
upon adjournment of the annual session. These six
join 15 other board members who were re-elected.

"I used to believe it was a detriment being in a composite local, but it isn’t. When something comes down in one ministry – like attendance review programs – it shows up sooner or later in other ministries, so you are prepared for it."

Pauline is excited about plans for the largest regional educational in a long time, which will bring about 180 members to Barrie to learn steward skills and grievance handing.

"I want to be able to say the membership came first with me. I believe in justice and fairness and I want to pull the BPS, the OPS and CAAT closer together. And I want the board and staff to be tighter knit than they have been."

Stephanie Blake, a library technician at Ryerson Polytechnic University, is president of Local 596. She has been an OPSEU member since 1984 when she was involved in organizing the local at Ryerson.

As a local president and a member of the Provincial Women’s Committee, she saw decisions at the board level that affected her and her members.

"I wanted a say at that level. I feel I have a progressive voice and an understanding of the membership. And I felt we needed more BPS representation."

Service to locals and making members feel a part of OPSEU are important, she said.

"One goal would be to organize more new members, because that is going to be our future.

"Another is revitalizing OPSEU and making it important for members; having a presence. There will be more attacks with re-election of the Conservatives, and it is important to revive the spirit of OPSEU to invigorate people."

Bob Eaton has been a probation officer in Brockville for 12 years, following five years as a correctional officer. He’s chair of the Ministry EERC for Community and Social Services. Recently re-organized into Local 440, he has been president and vice-president of Local 441.

Brought up in unionism by a father in the United Auto Workers, he wants to make the union more meaningful to members. "We need more focus on what a union is and what it is supposed to do.

"Members complain they have had no pay raises, no job security. They need to be aware the union has won a lot, and we didn’t get what we have because it was handed to us. We need to convince people it is worthwhile being an activist; that there’s a payoff morally and philosophically for the work."

Bob would like to find linkages where a union card can get members discounts.

Chris Madill is a lab technologist at Headwaters Health Care Centre in Orangeville, and has been since 1971. She has been president of Local 227 for six years and is the job security chair of the medical division.

She ran for the board to give the region BPS sector leadership, "and I felt I could make a difference in helping all locals accomplish the things their members feel are important – like access to educationals and better contracts. Unless the union responds to the issues of the members, you haven’t got a union."

She wants better representation for the region, and wants to find a better way to even out staffing for its locals.

"Our members also have to feel that the union is working for them on a regular basis. We have to be active in our communities. Most of our MPPs are Tories, so we have to take our issues to them and hold them accountable for the policies of Mike Harris," she said.

"I think I can help them do that."

Doug McDougall, a 10-year .investigator with the enforcement branch of the Ministry of Environment, came to OPSEU from the Toronto Police Association where he was the equivalent of chief steward. He tried to stay uninvolved, but his past caught up with him and within about four years he was on the executive of Local 649, where he now is president.

"I’m heavily into networking and communications and head office lacks that. It isn’t set up to communicate with members the way we should."

Doug hates voice mail. "I understand people aren’t at their desks all the time, and are on the phone a lot, but a person should give me the choice of leaving a voice message or calling back."

He’s excited about a new project to give staff reps and other staff more skills in collective bargaining, and to create a pool of staff and member development trainees to backfill for illnesses and other staff absences.

"I’d like to see more focus on issues, and trying to resolve them. We have to make decisions that will affect all of Ontario and all the members – not just one little region."

Doris Middleton, Local 314 president, is an income support specialist with the Ontario Disability Support Program (formerly family benefits). She’s been active in OPSEU since 1973. She was political action coordinator for the Orillia area.

Labour College last year and the OPS strike in 1996 intensified her interest in the union, and a growing family gave her more time. "Running for the board was a natural route if I wanted to make a difference."

Communication with members is important for Doris, who sees a wall between members and the board. "Members should know what the board is discussing (unless it’s confidential) so they can provide feedback and input," she said.

She would like to see OPSEU become more active in "the big world of labour – the Canadian Labour Congress, Ontario Federation of Labour, and local labour councils. OPSEU is a great union, but we’re only one. Strength, knowledge and solidarity are things you get from other unions."

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