Section E – Executive Board Report – Convention 2022

Section E – Executive Board Report – Convention 2022

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Executive Board 2021-2022

Officers:

Warren (Smokey) Thomas, President

Eduardo Almeida, 1st VP/Treasurer

Sara Labelle, 2nd Vice-President

Lucy Morton, 3rd Vice-President

Edie Strachan, 4th Vice-President

Ed Arvelin, 5th Vice-President

Tara Langford, 6th Vice-President

Tara Maszczakiewicz, 7th Vice-President

Laurie Nancekivell, 8th Vice-President

Julius Arscott, Region 5

Geoff Cain, Region 1

Dave Doran, Region 4

Drew Finucane, Region 2

Kingsley Kwok, Region 5

Ken Maclam, Region 7

Janel Perron, Region 3

Maggie Wakeford, Region 6

Erin Smith-Rice, Region 7

Ken Steinbrunner, Region 6

Joel Usher, Region 3

Jennifer Van Zetten, Region 1

Outgoing EBM’s: Nathalie Rondeau, Region 6

Summary of Executive Board Meetings March 2021 – February 2022

The following report is presented to Convention as a summary of Board decisions and initiatives at Executive Board meetings. The report was prepared on behalf of the Executive Board by the Corporate Secretary.

The report presents the issues and resolves of the Board Meetings. Each meeting is identified by its date. All motions CARRIED unless otherwise noted.

March 24-25, 2021- Executive Board Web Conference

The Executive Board was called to order at 9:37 a.m. President Thomas was in the Chair. All members were present. Clarke Eaton, Advisor to the President and Linda Mariani, Executive Assistant to the President were also in attendance.

Consent Agenda

The agenda was amended to add:

  • FT CAAT Support
  • Communication to members about Convention documents
  • Temp staff vacancies
  • PLC Discussion
  • AODA update
  • Observers at board meetings
  • Follow up from officers re: Governance
  • The minutes of the February 24, 2021 Executive board web conference and the March 10, 2021

Executive board e-poll were adopted

Business Arising

  • Update about mediation between OPSEU and FT CAAT Support: Discussion

Treasurer’s Report

  • Contingency Fund
  • Constituency Fund
  • Defence Fund
  • ODSP Fund – OPS Job Protection Fund
  • ODSP Fund – MERC Action Plan
  • ODSP Fund – OPS Redeployment Fund
  • LBED – Anti-privatization Fund
  • Bee Research Partnership: REFERRED to FVPO to return with individual seeking partnership to help resolve some questions

President’s Report

Internal Issues

  • 2021 Statutory Resolutions: the statutory resolutions that would have been referred to Convention 2021 are referred to the Executive
  • Sector 18 Paint Night: the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board approve the amount as outlined in the attached proposal to be drawn from the Contingency Fund for a “Paint Night” dedicated to promoting member well-being and open to all OPSEU/SEFPO members up to a maximum of 20
  • Sector 3 Boards of Education MHFA training: the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board approve the funds as outlined in this proposal from the Contingency Fund to provide the Boards of Education Division Executive, Local Executive Committees, and Stewards from 11 Boards of Education locals, the virtual training entitled Mental Health First Aid (MHFA).
  • Sector 3 Boards of Education political action training: the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board approve the funds as outlined in this proposal from the Contingency Fund to provide the Boards of Education Division Executive, Local Executive Committees, and Stewards from 11 Boards of Education locals, the two day virtual training entitled Political Action for Union

Staffing Issues – In Camera

Central Labour Updated (OFL/NUPGE/CLC) Other Business

  • OFL Election campaign plan: REFERRAL to CPAC
  • Caucus at the CLC with all the OPSEU/SEFPO delegates: we have a caucus on the Sunday from 7-9 during the CLC
  • Donation to CUBGW: a donation of $5000 be provided to CUBGW to assist with their lockout with the funds to be drawn from contingency fund
  • Defence Fund Request: the Defence Fund provide up to $70,000 for the total legal costs incurred by the members in the course of their criminal proceedings, provided that criminal counsel continues to charge reasonable rates and provides satisfactory updates concerning the progress of the case, as confirmed by OPSEU General

Committee Reports

  • Social Mapping
    • Policy Section 3-5: policy 3-5 in the OPSEU/SEFPO Policy Manual be amended to replace “minority rights” with “equity rights” and “minority members” with “equity members.” Minority Equity Rights Issues Courses, educational material, campaigns and publications will feature on: going covering of the needs and activities of minority equity members. (February 24-25, 1988 B, p.15
  • Convention
    • CLC Convention: OPSEU/SEFPO will commit to our 2017 delegate entitlement numbers and increase our delegate entitlement to the full 192 as per the stipend entitlement offered by NUPGE; and that the delegates that were elected at the 2019 Regional Meetings be provided delegate status for the upcoming Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) Convention, provided they are still active members of OPSEU/SEFPO; and that OPSEU/SEFPO will fill our regular delegate entitlements plus the increased delegate numbers through the mechanism below: All Alternates who were elected at the 2019 OPSEU/SEFPO Regional meetings, Equity Committee alternates/caucuses/EBM alternates, All Constitution/Resolutions/Credentials and Hardship Committee delegates, 1 person per area council, 3 per sector/division/merc, Any remaining delegate spots available will be evenly distributed per Region with spots to be allocated through a process determined by the Executive Board Members in that Region and the staff assigned to assist with delegate credentials will provide a weekly update on credential numbers to the Central Political Action Committee with a final credential deadline of April 30th to the National Union in order to enable NUPGE to re-allocate OPSEU/SEFPO’s unused stipend to other components.
  • Francophone: Update provided

 

  • Pension Liaison
    • CAAT Pension Trustee appointment: Veneise Samuels’s term be extended for the period of July 1, 2021 – August 31, 2022 (expiration of the current CAAT S collective agreement) provided Sister Samuels signs the Letter of Understanding provided by OPSEU/SEFPO.
    • CAAT Pension Trustee appointment: that Virginia Di Monte’s term be extended for the period of July 1, 2021 – August 31, 2022 (expiration of the current CAAT S collective agreement) provided Sister Di Monte sign the Letter of Understanding provided by OPSEU/SEFPO.
    • CAAT Pension Trustee appointment: that Rasho Donchev term be extended for the period of July 1, 2021 – August 31, 2022 (expiration of the current CAAT S collective agreement) provided Brother Donchev sign the Letter of Understanding provided by OPSEU/SEFPO

New Business

  • HDPP Complaint from the February 2021 Board meeting : clarification: Discussion
  • EBM’s and Pre-Bargaining Conferences: Discussion
  • Equity regional and rep budgets: Discussion
  • Direction to Convention Planning Committee
    • The Chair ruled this motion out of order, Chair was challenge, The chair is upheld
  • Contingency Plans for 2022 OPSEU/SEFPO Regional Meetings
    • The Chair ruled the motion out of order, Chair was challenged, The Chair is upheld
  • Communication re: Typical Convention materials: WAS DEFEATED
  • staff vacancies: The Chair ruled the motion out of order
  • AODA update: Discussion
  • Observers at board meetings: Discussion
  • Follow up from officers re: Governance

April 7, 2021- Executive Board Web Conference

The Executive Board was called to order at 7:02 p.m. President Thomas was in the Chair. All members were present except Geoff Cain and Kingsley Kwok, the reasons were acceptable to the Chair. Clarke Eaton, Advisor to the President and Linda Mariani, Executive Assistant to the President were also in attendance.

Maggie Wakeford was sworn in to the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board.

Committee Reports: Audit: Maurice Gabay, Administrator of Financial Services was present for the Audit report. PricewaterhouseCoopers presented the Audit report to the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board.

Agenda

The agenda was amended to remove:

  • Adding Three (3) Permanent Full-Time Organizers (Communications Division – Organizing Unit)
  • Constitutional Amendment to Articles 4, 7, 14, 15, 21, 24 and 29 – Dismantling Systemic Racism
  • Adding Three (3) Permanent Human Rights Officer Positions (Equity Unit)
  • HDPP Complaint: #2020-0415-0015

The agenda was amended to add:

  • Red4Ed Appreciation Hoodies
  • Recommendation from the May 25, 2021 Executive Committee Meeting o Muskoka Paramedic Services – New Local 397 Assignment
  • HDPP Complaint L415 (In Camera)
  • Palestine Solidarity
  • PLC Update – HOOP
  • Presidential Assignment (PA) Days
  • Board Member Education for Complaints
  • CoRW Report
  • Communication to the Board
  • Governance Education for the Board
  • No Safe Distance at Head Office
  • L5108 Update
  • OPS Bargaining Meeting

Business Arising

  • From the April 21, 2021 Executive Board meeting
    • Resolution HR5: work in progress
    • Laurentian University Campaign: President Thomas provided an
    • Organizational Chart Changes (2): the Maintenance Electrician position be deleted from the organizational chart, and a General Duty Maintenance position be added, thereby increasing the General Duty Maintenance staff complement from two (2) to three (3).Be it further resolved that the funds be drawn from the Contingency
    • Full-Time Positions (Employee Relations Division)Add Three (3) Staff Employment Equity, Diversity & Inclusions Permanent: three (3) Employment Equity, Diversity and Inclusion positions be added as permanent Excluded staff reporting to the Employee Relations Unit; and the funds be drawn from the Contingency
    • Governance Education for the Board: Discussion
    • REFERRAL from the March 24-25, 2021 Executive Board Meeting: Timed Presentation: Jason Prenger from Urban Bee Company gave a presentation to the Board on the Bee Research Partnership.
    • Bee Research Partnership: WAS DEFEATED

President’s Report

Internal Issues

  • Third Party Election Advertising: apply for registration as a Third Party in the 2022 election and report advertising expenditures to Elections Ontario as required by the Ontario Elections Finances
  • Community Mobile Unit (Urban Rez Solutions): the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board approve a donation in the amount indicated in the proposal to assist Urban Rez Solutions Social Enterprise with its Community Mobile Unit; and the funds be drawn from the Contingency
  • Local Elections during Covid-19 Restrictions: REFERRAL to the President’s Office to come back at the June Board with consideration for having Locals conduct elections but to write in to the President’s Office if not able to hold
  • Update to Section 8 (Education) of the OPSEU/SEFPO Policy: REFERRAL to the President’s Office for this item to be brought to the Policy Review Committee and the Executive Committee
  • Policy for Members Attending Virtual Executive Board Meetings: that the following policy be implemented for members to attend the virtual board meetings
  • Red4Ed Appreciation Hoodies: the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board approve the funds as outlined in the proposal from the Contingency Fund to provide the Sector 3 Boards of Education members the opportunity to order Red 4 Ed
  • Defence Fund Request: the Defence Fund provide up to $70,000 for the total legal costs incurred by the members in the course of their criminal proceedings, provided that criminal counsel continues to charge reasonable rates and provides satisfactory updates concerning the progress of the case, as confirmed by OPSEU General

Central Labour Updates (OFL/NUPGE/CLC): President Thomas provided an update.

Staffing Issues – In Camera

Other Business

Treasurer’s Report

  • Financials
  • Contingency Fund
  • Constituency Fund
  • Defence Fund
  • ODSP Fund – OPS Job Protection Fund
  • ODSP Fund – MERC Action Plan
  • ODSP Fund – OPS Redeployment Fund
  • LBED – Anti-privatization Fund

Committee Reports

  • Coalition of Racialized Workers
    • Black Lives Matter Sudbury: OPSEU/SEFPO donates the amount as outlined in the attached proposal as a one-time donation; and the funds be drawn from the Contingency Fund
    • Black Creek Community Farm: OPSEU/SEFPO donates the amount noted in the proposal to the Black Creek Community Farm and these funds be drawn from the Contingency Fund
    • Jane-Finch Housing Coalition: OPSEU/SEFPO donates the amount as outlined in the proposal to the Jane-Finch Housing Coalition; and these funds be drawn from the Contingency
    • South Asian Forum: the amount noted in the proposal be drawn from the Contingency Fund to cover expenses involved in the forum of South Asian
  • Elections
    • Francophone Committee: Maggie Wakeford was acclaimed
    • MDT/SDT Ad Hoc: Maggie Wakeford was acclaimed
    • Strategic Planning: Sara Labelle was acclaimed
  • Pension Liaison
    • Pathways to Independence Sponsor Appointment: the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board appoint Craig Helmer, Local 448, to the Pathways to independence Pension Sponsors Committee for a three (3) year term commencing June 1, 2021 and ending May 30, 2024, provided Craig signs and returns the OPSEU/SEFPO Letter of
    • Pathways to Independence Trustee Appointment: the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board appoint Leslie Taylor, Local 448, to the Pathways to independence Pension Trustee Committee for a three (3) year term commencing June 1, 2021 and ending May 30, 2024, provided Leslie signs and returns the OPSEU/SEFPO Letter of Understanding
    • PLC Update – HOOP Executive Board Member, Janel Perron, provided an
  • Executive Committee (Officers) Update
    • Recommendation from the May 25, 2021 Executive Committee Meeting Muskoka Paramedic Services – New Local 397 Assignment: the Executive Board adopt the recommendation from the Executive Committee to approve the former members of UFCW Muskoka Paramedic Services to be assigned a stand-alone Local, and the Muskoka Paramedic Services shall be assigned Local

New Business

  • Reconsideration of the June 26, 2019 Executive Board motion: Committee re: Equity Seats on Board: Reconsideration motion withdrawn and will be brought back to the Executive Committee (Officers) meeting for
  • Executive Board member Kingsley Kwok’s Motions (3) Motion #1: To be brought back to the Executive Committee meeting so that the Executive Committee reports back to the Executive Board in June
  • Executive Board member Kingsley Kwok’s Motions (3) Motion #2: To be brought back to the Executive Committee meeting so that the Executive Committee reports back to the Executive Board in June
  • Executive Board member Kingsley Kwok’s Motions (3) Motion #3: To be brought back to the Executive Committee meeting so that the Executive Committee reports back to the Executive Board in June
  • Palestine Solidarity: WAS DEFEATED
  • Presidential Assignment (PA) Days: Discussion
  • Board Member Education for Complaints: Discussion
  • Communication to the Board: Discussion
  • No Safe Distance: Discussion
  • L5108 Update: Discussion
  • OPS Bargaining Meetings: Discussion
  • JP Hornick, Chair of CAAT-A Bargaining Team and Jonathan Singer, Vice-Chair of CAAT-A Bargaining Team provided a presentation to the Executive Board on CAAT-A Negotiations Consultation

June 23-24, 2021 Executive Board Web Conference

The Executive Board was called to order at 9:40 a.m. President Thomas was in the Chair. All members were present except Geoff Cain, the reason was acceptable to the Chair. Clarke Eaton, Advisor to the President and Linda Mariani, Executive Assistant to the President were also in attendance.

Consent Agenda

The agenda was amended to add:

  • 2022 Regional Meetings
  • Donation to the Mennonite Central Committee of Timmins
  • HDPP Complaint: #2020-0415-0015 Timed Presentation – Wednesday, June 23, 2021 at 2:00p.m. – in camera
  • OPSEU/SEFPO Delegates to the OFL Convention
  • OPSEU/SEFPO Local 5117 Black Creek Community Health Centre
  • BPS Conference
  • Surplus Funds
  • Strike Funds
  • The Minutes of the May 26-27, 2021 Executive Board web conference were adopted

The agenda was amended to remove:

  • Organizational Chart Change:
  • Adding One (1) Staff Employment Equity, Diversity & Inclusions – Anti-Black Racism Advisor Temporary Position (Employee Relations Division)

Business Arising

  • From the April 21, 2021 Executive Board Meeting
    • Resolution HR5: Item is dealt
  • From the May 26-27, 2021 Executive Board Meeting
    • EBM Education for Complaints: item is dealt with-
  • OPS Bargaining Meeting: update provided
  • REFERRAL from the May 26-27, 2021 Executive Board Meeting:
    • Local Elections during Covid-19 Restrictions: if a Local is unable to hold

Elections until such time that government restrictions on gatherings are lifted, written approval with explanation need to be sought from the President’s Office. If approved, all current Local Executive Committee members will retain their status until restrictions are lifted and OPSEU/SEFPO returns to normal operations; and that where a Local does conduct elections and provided they adhere to the process established by the Electronic Voting Motion of August 4, 2020, the President’s office will consider electronic voting procedures for Local meetings and where a request is denied shall provide reasons for doing so in writing.

Treasurer’s Report

  • Financials
  • Contingency Fund
  • Constituency Fund
  • Defence Fund
  • ODSP Fund – OPS Job Protection Fund
  • ODSP Fund – MERC Action Plan
  • ODSP Fund – OPS Redeployment Fund
  • LBED – Anti-privatization Fund
  • Other Business
  • Surplus Funds-Discussions
  • Strike Funds-Discussions

President’s Report

Internal Issues

  • Donation to the Windsor West Indian Association: the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board approve a donation to the Windsor West Indian Association (WWIA) in the amount indicated in the proposal to be drawn from the Contingency Fund; and the funds will be divided equally to support the Windsor Carrousel of Nations and the Jamaican Canadian Independence Day events.
  • Sector 18 – Mental Health & Addictions Division Bargaining Conference 2021: the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board approve the funding for the planning and execution of a Sector 18 Bargaining Conference webinar to be held in the Fall of 2021, in accordance with the details and outline of this proposal and that the funds be drawn from the Contingency
  • Sector 1 – Ambulance Health & Safety Forum 2021: OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board approve the funding for the planning and execution of a Sector 1 Health and Safety Forum to be held in the Fall of 2021, in accordance with the details and outline of this proposal and that the funds be drawn from the Contingency
  • CAAT- A Bargaining for Better T-Shirts: the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board approve the funds as outlined in the attached proposal from the Contingency Fund to support local organizing activities in this round of CAAT Academic
  • OPSEU/SEFPO Young Worker of the Year Award: the OPSEU/SEFPO Young Worker of the Year Award be presented annually at Convention starting in 2022; and the recipient of this award be selected by the Provincial Young Workers Committee (PYC) upon review of all the nominations received by the Equity Unit based on the criteria outlined in this proposal.
  • 2022 Regional Meetings: in accordance with Article 14.2 of the OPSEU/SEFPO Constitution, that the 2022 Regional Meetings be scheduled and held on Saturday, March 19, The Regional Meeting for Region 5, will be scheduled and held on March 19 and 20, 2022, if required.

Staffing Issues – In Camera

Central Labour Updates (OFL/NUPGE/CLC) President Thomas provided an update.

 

Business Arising
  • HDPP Complaint: #2020-0415-0015:update
Committee Reports
  • Disability Rights Caucus: Update Provided
  • PWC: Update Provided
  • PYC: Update Provided
  • Rainbow Alliance: Update Provided

 

New Business
  • Timed Presentation: HDPP Complaint: #2020-0415-0015
  • Labour Day Fund: the Labour Day Activities policy be removed and replaced with the following language: and the First Vice President/Treasurer provide information to the Executive Board for the 2022 budget process regarding how many locals or Area Councils (including their local number or district) have requested access to the Labour Day Activities Fund in the past 5 years, for consideration in next year’s
  • Donation to the Mennonite Central Committee of Timmins: OPSEU/SEFPO donate $20,000 to the Mennonite Central Committee of Timmins to support their efforts in the coastal communities and that the funds be drawn from the Contingency
  • OPSEU/SEFPO Local 5117 Black Creek Community Health Centre: OPSEU/SEFPO use contingency funds for time off and other expenses, as per policy to book off members of the Coalition of Racialized Workers and members of Region 5, of up to 10 members per week, to assist Local 5117 members on strike at Black Creek Community Health
  • BPS Conference:
July 21, 2021 Executive Board Web Conference

The Executive Board was called to order at 9:37 a.m. President Thomas was in the Chair. All members were present, except Julius Arscott, Drew Finucane and Maggie Wakeford, the reason was acceptable to the Chair. Clarke Eaton, Advisor to the President and Linda Mariani, Executive Assistant to the President were also in attendance.

 

Consent Agenda

The agenda was amended to add:

  • Referral from the May 26-27, 2021 Executive Board Meeting:
    • Update to Section 8 (Education) of the OPSEU/SEFPO Policy
  • OPSEU/SEFPO Policy Manual Proposal
  • Recommendations (2) from the July 20, 2021 Executive Committee Meeting
    • Lifelabs Drivers in Region 2 : Assignment of New Local 298
    • Inclusion of Aramark into Local 351
  • Local 5117 Hardship Fund
  • Barrie Tornado Hardship
  • Mental Health Instructor Training
  • Organizing Drive
  • PLC Update

 

  • The Minutes of the June 23-24, 2021 Executive Board web conference were adopted
Business Arising
  • REFERRAL from the May 26-27, 2021 Executive Board Meeting: Update to Section 8 (Education) of the OPSEU/SEFPO Policy: the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board approve the proposed changes to Section 8 (Education) of the OPSEU/SEFPO Policy, as indicated in the
  • OPSEU/SEFPO Policy Manual Proposal: the Executive Board approve the proposal from Scribe Technical Writers and Editors, as attached, to work with the Policy Review Committee and appropriate Staff in transforming OPSEU/SEFPO’s Policy Manual.
Treasurer’s Report
  • Financials
  • Contingency Fund
  • Constituency Fund
  • Defence Fund
  • ODSP Fund – OPS Job Protection Fund
  • ODSP Fund – MERC Action Plan
  • ODSP Fund – OPS Redeployment Fund
  • LBED – Anti-privatization Fund
  • Other Business
President’s Report Internal Issues
  • Remove Senior Negotiator Position and Add a Negotiator Position (Negotiations Unit, Local Services/Collective Bargaining Division): the Senior Negotiator position be deleted; and a permanent Negotiator position be added in its place using the 2021 budget already allocated to the Senior Negotiator
  • Remove One (1) Secretary Position and Add One (1) Clerk Position (Arbitrations Unit, Legal Services Division): the vacant Secretary position in the Arbitrations Unit be deleted; and a permanent Clerk position in the Arbitrations Unit be added in its place using the 2021 budget already allocated to the Secretary

 

Central Labour Updates (OFL/NUPGE/CLC): President Thomas provided an update.

 

Other Business
  • Local 5117 Hardship Fund: $20,000 be allocated to the Local 5117 Hardship
  • Barrie Tornado Hardship: $20,000 be allocated to the Region 3 Hardship Fund to specifically deal with Barrie tornado aftermath’
Staff Issues (in Camera)

 

Committee Reports

  • Disability Rights Caucus: updated provided
  • PLC Update: updated provided
    • Re-Appointment of Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP) Trustee: Sandy Blancher be re-appointed as a Pension Trustee to the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP) for the period of July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2024, provided Sandy Blanchard signs the Letter of Understanding provided by OPSEU/SEFPO.
    • Re-Appointment of Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP) Trustee:

Laura Dumoulin be re-appointed as a Pension Trustee to the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP) for the period of July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2023, provided Laura Dumoulin signs the Letter of Understanding provided by OPSEU/SEFPO.

  • Executive Committee (Officers) Update

 

  • Recommendations (2) from the July 20, 2021 Executive Committee Meeting: Lifelabs Drivers in Region 2 – Assignment of New Local 298: the Executive Board approve the recommendation from the Executive Committee that these members be assigned the Local number 298, as a stand-alone
  • Inclusion of Aramark into Local 351: the Executive Board adopt the recommendation from the Executive Committee to approve the inclusion of Aramark into Local

 

New Business
  • Mental Health Instructor Training: OPSEU/SEFPO support up to five members from each Region to attend the one week Mental Health First Aid Instructor Training by booking them off from work and covering the cost of the course registration and that the cost of this be drawn from the Contingency Fund.
  • Organizing Drive: Discussion
  • 2021 Fall Organizing Campaign: Phase 1: the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board approve the funds as outlined in this proposal from the Contingency Fund to carry out the Phase 1 of an organizing campaign for precarious workers, which will take place between August 2021 and October
  • Defence Fund Request: the Defence Fund provide up to $100,000 for the total legal costs incurred by the members in the course of their criminal proceedings, provided that criminal counsel continues to charge reasonable rates and provides satisfactory updates concerning the progress of the case, as confirmed by OPSEU General

 

August 25, 2021 Executive Board Web Conference

The Executive Board was called to order at 9:35 a.m. President Thomas was in the Chair. All members were present, except Edie Strachan. Clarke Eaton, Advisor to the President and Linda Mariani, Executive Assistant to the President were also in attendance.

 

Consent Agenda

The agenda was amended to add:

  • Western Area Youth Services (WAYS) and Anago Resources Merger to Local 171
  • HDPP Complaint: #2020-0415-0015 (in camera)
  • OPSEU/SEFPO Reaffirms Its Commitment to Support Healthy and Safe Workplaces
  • Gatherings/Membership Meetings in Person on and off OPSEU/SEFPO Premises
  • Covid-19 Vaccination Survey Results
  • Organizational Chart
  • Organizing Drive
  • Region 1 Grievance Officer
  • PLC Verbal Update
  • The minutes of the July 21, 2021 Executive Board web conference and the August 10, 2021 OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board E-Poll : Donation for Evacuation Costs Associated with Forest Fires in Region 7 were adopted
Business Arising
  • From the July 21, 2021 Executive Board Meeting: Mental Health Instructor Training, work in progress
Treasurer’s Report
  • Financials
  • Contingency Fund
  • Constituency Fund
  • Defence Fund
  • ODSP Fund – OPS Job Protection Fund
  • ODSP Fund – MERC Action Plan
  • ODSP Fund – OPS Redeployment Fund

 

  • LBED – Anti-privatization Fund
  • Additional Local Rebate – 2021: that a portion of the savings from the first 2 quarters of the year will be allocated to a special onetime disbursement to all locals as an additional rebate cheque for 2021 to assist Locals with resources they require and make the amount 50% of the allocated funds as noted in the proposal; locals that do not have their TARs up to date will have these funds held in trust up to the end of the
  • HDPP Complaint: #2020-4104-0023 (in-camera):Discussion
  • HDPP Complaint: #2020-0415-0015 (in-camera): in accordance with articles 6.3(d) and 7.2.2 of the OPSEU Constitution, and with the motion passed by the Executive Board on February 24, 2021, the member is returned to membership in good standing and to any offices that the member held on February 24
  • Covid-19 Vaccination Survey Result: Administrator of Communications Division, Gissell Yanez, was present to answer
President’s Report Internal Issues
  • OPSEU/SEFPO Reaffirms Its Commitment to Support Healthy and Safe Workplaces: OPSEU/SEFPO reaffirms its commitment to support healthy and safe workplaces; and OPSEU/SEFPO’s position be consistent with the recommendations of the Ontario Chief Medical Officer and the Ontario Science Advisory table; and OPSEU/SEFPO supports the rights to an individual’s personal health choices and protection of private and personal medical information; and

OPSEU/SEFPO stands firmly with Local health and safety committees and their individual work to promote healthy and safe workplaces commensurate with protection of privacy and science-based solutions emanating from the Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health and the Ontario Science Advisory Table; and

OPSEU/SEFPO continue to advocate for the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) and policies be in place for the protection of all workers; and OPSEU/SEFPO will vigorously defend any and all members subjected to any workplace discipline not commensurate with the above values.

  • Saugeen First Nation Donation Request; OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board approve the donation of funds outlined in the attached proposal; and these funds be drawn from the Contingency
  • LBED Anti-Privatization 7-Eleven Case Conferences; the funding be drawn from the LBED Anti- Privatization Fund for three members of the LBED Anti-Privatization Committee to be booked off August 25 to September 24, 2021 to gather information and prepare presentations for this Eglinton location and for any future case conferences for other
  • Registration as a Third Party in the 2021 Federal Election: OPSEU/SEFPO register as a third-party advertiser for the 2021 Federal Election so it may incur election survey expenses and partisan activity expenses in an amount greater than $500 and meet the reporting requirements described in the Canada Elections Act.
Committee Reports
  • Disability Rights Caucus: Update provided
  • Executive Committee (Officers) Update provide
    • Western Area Youth Services (WAYS) and Anago Resources Merger to Local 171: as recommended by the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Committee, the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board approve that the members of Humana be assigned a new local number (L171) and that local 131 be

 

New Business
  • Region 7 Orange Abinoojiinh Movement and Sacred Fire: OPSEU/SEFPO support the Orange Abinoojiinh Movement and the Sacred Fire; and the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board approve the funds as outlined in the attached proposal; and purchases previously made in support of the Orange Abinoojiinh Movement and the Sacred Fire be submitted as part of the proposed budget; and OPSEU/SEFPO book off 1 member from the Indigenous Circle, from September 7th to October

 

1st, 2021 who is a Region 7 Member and is from a local First Nation community; and funds be drawn from the Contingency Fund.

  • Region 6 Provincial Women’s Committee Representative: the Executive Board agree to have Sister Maggie Wakeford continue in the position of Region 6 Provincial Women’s committee representative until 2022 Regional
September 22 -23, 2021 Executive Board Web Conference

The Executive Board was called to order at 9:37 a.m. President Thomas was in the Chair. All members were present. Clarke Eaton, Advisor to the President and Linda Mariani, Executive Assistant to the President were also in attendance.

 

Consent Agenda

The agenda was amended to add:

  • Convention Committee : Convention 2022
  • Indigenous Circle Committee – update
  • Policy Review Ad-hoc Committee : Gender Neutral Language and Pronouns in Policy Manual
  • PWC: Report and Motion
  • Retirees Board Committee : Retiree Delegates to OFL Convention
  • Social Mapping Committee Report and Motion
  • Executive Committee (Officers) update –Tele-Town hall meetings Re:Covid19
  • Dismantling Anti-Black Racism Training Session: Executive Board – Session #2
  • “Surplus funds used to pay balance owing to the strike fund for the purchase of the Sudbury Regional office and the former “Frost centre””
  • Staffing Question – In camera
  • First Alternate in Negotiations Procedures – Policy Section 1
  • Arscott’s Motion: Motion to support hospital and healthcare sector workers
  • CAAT- A Bargaining update
  • The minutes of the August 25, 2021 Executive Board web conference and the August 31, 2021 OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board E-Polls : Renovations at OPSEU/SEFPO Frost Centre and waiver, Regional Billboard Media Buy and waiver were
Business Arising
  • From the July 21, 2021 Executive Board Meeting- Mental Health Instructor Training:work in progress
Unfinished Business
  • Additional Hardship Funds :OPSEU/SEFPO send an additional payment equal to what was budgeted in the 2021 budget to the Regional Hardship Committees, to assist its members; and funds and note to be placed on financial reports
  • Regional PUA Fund Increase -2021 :that a portion of the savings from the first 2 quarters of the year will be allocated to a special onetime disbursement to all regional PUA funds; and this payment will be equal to what Regions were budgeted for
  • Payment of Funds Borrowed for Sudbury Office:that 100 percent of the money owed for the Sudbury Office should be paid to the strike
  • Payment of Funds Borrowed for OPSEU/SEFPO Frost Education Training and Conference Centre: that 75 percent of the money owed to the Education Training and Conference Centre from the Strike
  • Gatherings/Membership Meetings in Person on and off OPSEU/SEFPO Premises: Discussion
  • L5108 Trusteeship: President Thomas provided an update
  • L596 Trusteeship:President Thomas provided an update

 

Treasurer’s Report
  • Financials
  • Contingency Fund

 

  • Constituency Fund
  • Defence Fund
  • ODSP Fund – OPS Job Protection Fund
  • ODSP Fund – MERC Action Plan
  • ODSP Fund – OPS Redeployment Fund
  • LBED – Anti-privatization Fund
  • Other Business

 

President’s Report Internal Issues
  • 2022 proposed schedule of meetings for Executive Committee and Executive Board: A schedule was made
  • The National Day of Remembrance, (Remember Me March): the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board approve to send the members of the PWC to represent OPSEU/SEFPO at the Remember Me March in Ottawa on September 30, 2021; and the applicable member expenses outlined in the proposal will be covered via the Contingency
  • Mental Health Training for Racialized and Indigenous Members: the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board approve the funds outlined in the attached proposal; and these funds be drawn from the Contingency Fund.
  • Child Care Design: 155 Lesmill: OPSEU/SEFPO complete the building of a childcare centre at 155 Lesmill Road within the next 6 months by engaging the services of C &Partners Architects; and OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board approve the funds as outlined in this proposal from Contingency Funds in order to design, prepare drawings and administer the construction of the childcare centre. REFERRAL to Presidents Office
  • Dismantling Anti-Black Racism Training for Executive Board Members #2 :Discussion
Central Labour Updates (OFL/NUPGE/CLC)
  • President Thomas provided an

 

Staffing Issues – In Camera Committee Reports
  • Audit :Update provided
  • Convention –Discussion
  • PWC
    • PWC Recommendation to Donation to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission: OPSEU/SEFPO continues to demonstrate its commitment to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and that the board approve a donation in the amount previously discussed to be drawn from the contingency
  • Pension Liaison –Update provided
    • CAAT Trustee Appointment- Gavin Hemeon, first alternate, be appointed to CAAT Pension Plan Board of Trustees beginning September 23 and ending December 31, 2021, end of original term, provided Gavin Hemeon sign the Letter of Understanding provided by OPSEU/SEFPO.
  • Policy Review Ad-hoc
    • Gender Neutral Language and Pronouns in Policy Manual: when OPSEU/SEFPO’s Policy Manual is being edited and restructured, that it will amend all gender specific language and pronouns to gender neutral language and pronouns; and any new policies or amendments made to the OPSEU/SEFPO Policy Manual will be made using gender neutral language and pronouns.
  • Retirees Board
    • Retiree Delegates to OFL Convention- if a Vice-Chair also cannot attend the event, an

 

election of the remaining retirees may take place to duly elect a delegate; and this applies to all central conventions with affiliates (OFL, CLC, NUPGE) where delegates from the Retired Members Division can attend and that the OPSEU/ SEFPO Policy Manual be updated accordingly.

  • Social Mapping
    • Constitutional Amendment to Articles 4, 7, 14, 15, 21, 24 and 29 – Dismantling Systemic Racism: the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board endorse and approve the proposed changes to Articles 4, 7, 14, 15, 21, 24 and 29 in the OPSEU/SEFPO Constitution as outlined in the attached
  • Indigenous Circle–Update provided
  • Executive Committee (Officers) Update
    • Tele Town Hall Meetings RE: COVID: Discussion
New Business
  • Membership Reports :Discussion
  • Organizational Chart :Discussion
  • Region 1 Grievance Officer: Discussion
  • Executive Board Member, Julius Arscott’s Motion: OPSEU/SEFPO reinforces vaccination education of members and encourages vaccination of members along with supporting members seeking accommodation, consistent with medical exemptions and Ontario Human Rights code prohibited grounds from employer vaccination policies and in grievance arbitration in matters of progressive discipline; OPSEU/SEPFO places emphasis on workers having the right to not be exposed to a deadly virus like COVID-19; and OPSEU/SEFPO demand that Federal and Provincial governments implement a fully paid sick days program for workers, and legally require all employers, including those in the gig economy, to provide up to three paid sick days for employees to receive a vaccine and recover from any side effects; and OPSEU/SEFPO demands that public health policies be decided in an entirely transparent process by public health experts and epidemiologists at arms- length from corporate and government
  • Arscott’s Motion: Motion to support hospital and healthcare sector workers-:OPSEU/SEFPO call on NUPGE, the Ontario Federation of Labour, CLC and all unions to organize active mass visible support, while adhering to public health measures for hospital and healthcare sector workers and against the anti-mask and anti-vaccine
  • First Alternate in Negotiations Procedures – Policy Section 18.1- Discussion
October 27, 2021 Executive Board Web Conference

The Executive Board was called to order at 9:37a.m. President Thomas was in the Chair. All members were present. Clarke Eaton, Advisor to the President and Linda Mariani, Executive Assistant to the President were also in attendance

 

Consent Agenda

The agenda was amended to add:

OPSEU/SEFPO External staff post: Bilingual Grievance Officer

  • Disability Rights Caucus
  • Provincial Young Workers Committee report
  • Provincial Women’s Committee
  • Executive Board Member, Sara Labelle’s Motion: Corrections Bargaining
  • CLC Flight Reimbursement
  • Board of Education Divisional meeting
  • The Executive Board Minutes of the September 22-23, 2021 Executive Board web conference and the October 13, 2021 OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board E-Poll – Corrections Bargaining Team Request were

 

The agenda was amended to remove:

  • JP Hornick, Chair of CAAT-A Bargaining Team – CAAT-A Bargaining -Presentation

 

Replaced with:

  • Kathleen Demareski, Convention Coordinator, Convention Office – Presentation
Business Arising
  • From the July 21, 2021 Executive Board Meeting- Mental Health Instructor Training-work in progress

 

Treasurer’s Report
  • Financials
  • Contingency Fund
  • Constituency Fund
  • Defence Fund
  • ODSP Fund – OPS Job Protection Fund
  • ODSP Fund – MERC Action Plan
  • ODSP Fund – OPS Redeployment Fund
  • LBED – Anti-privatization Fund
  • Other Business

 

President’s Report Internal Issues
  • OPSEU/SEFPO External staff post: Bilingual Grievance Officer: OPSEU/SEFPO post to the public the vacant Bilingual Grievance Officer position

Central Labour Updates (OFL/NUPGE/CLC) President Thomas provided an update.

 

Staffing Issues – In Camera Committee Reports
  • Central Political Action Committee

 

  • CPAC Provincial Election 2022 Campaign: the Executive Board approve funding from the contingency fund for an election/GOTV campaign mobilizing the entire OPSEU/SEFPO membership around an OPSEU/ SEFPO platform developed by CPAC in consultation with regional and local leaders; and the platform includes improving public services, keeping them public, and protecting the health and safety and workplace rights of all workers in this

 

  • Disability Rights Caucus: Update provided
  • PYC-Update provided
  • Pension Liaison
    • Pension Liaison Committee recommendation to the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board to amend the OPTrust and OPT Select Plan to align with the Fraser Decision made by the Supreme Court in relation to temporary reduced hours of work and pension accrual: OPSEU/SEFPO support the attached proposed amendments to the plan in relation to the Fraser Amendments to include periods of temporary part-time work

 

  • Pension Liaison Committee recommendation to the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board to amend the OPTrust and OPT Select Plan to incorporate general housekeeping changes related to the definition of the word “Salary” and “Pensionable Pay”: OPSEU/SEFPO support the attached proposed amendment to Article 2 and A2 reflecting that the definition of “salary” be amended as well as the recommendation that the definition of “pensionable pay” be amended to replace the word “paid” with “payable” so that the language used in both schedules of benefits (OPT Primary Plan and OPT Select) is

 

  • Pension Liaison Committee recommendation to the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board to amend

 

the OPTrust and OPT Select Plan to incorporate general housekeeping changes related to the purchase of prior service for OPT Select members: OPSEU/SEFPO support the attached proposed amendment to allow members in the OPTselect schedule of benefits to purchase past periods of past service to align with the provisions in the main schedule of benefits.

 

  • Pension Liaison Committee recommendation to the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board to amend the OPT Select Plan to incorporate general housekeeping changes related to designation of residual and refund benefits upon death of an OPT Select participating member: OPSEU/SEFPO support the attached proposed amendments (A7.5 and A9.8) to allow the surviving spouses of deceased members in the OPTselect schedule of benefits to be deemed the recipient of these benefits upon death of an OPTrust Select member to align the provisions in the main schedule of

 

  • PWC: Updated provided
  • OPSEU Resource/Enterprises: Presentation –Union Strategies r/t Program

 

New Business
  • Kathleen Demareski, Convention Coordinator, Convention Office OPSEU/SEFPO provided a presentation to the Executive Board on Convention 2022 options
  • Convention 2022 Motion: OPSEU/SEFPO plans to hold their 2022 Convention in a hybrid format, which includes virtual and in-person elements); and OPSEU/SEFPO prepare a tender to be reviewed by the Regional Vice Presidents (RVPs) immediately and returned no later than November 15, 2021 in order to plan for this hybrid convention and that the tender also include an all-virtual Convention, as a contingency, if Public Health and/or the Provincial Government no longer allows for an in-person Convention; and the RVPs will be work with the OPSEU/SEFPO Convention Planning Committee to provide input and ensure that regional considerations are addressed; and OPSEU/SEFPO delegates and alternates may attend the 2022 Convention in-person; and if a delegate(s) and alternate is unable to attend in person, a virtual option will be provided that will allow them to fully participate in Convention; and observers will only be able to participate
  • Executive Board Member, Janel Perron’s Motion: In person meetings: Referral to the President’s Office to come back to the Executive Board, post vaccine policy
  • Executive Board Member, Sara Labelle’s Motion: Corrections Bargaining
    • The Chair ruled this motion out of order, Chair was challenge, The chair is upheld
  • CLC Flight Reimbursement: Discussions
  • Board of Education Division meeting: Discussions
  • Executive Board Member Janel Peron’s Motion: In person meetings- due to the easing COVID-19 restrictions by the Ontario government and the various Local Public Health Units, OPSEU/SEFPO members are permitted to meet in person with the following provisions in place: provided they follow the Ontario government and Local Public Health Unit guidelines in the community of the meeting; and provided the meetings are not in OPSEU/SEFPO membership buildings at this time, provided there are virtual options available for those unable to attend in person; and the current policies for meeting approvals and for expense reimbursements for sector, negotiating teams and committee meetings will apply; and a process will be created and communicated by OPSEU/SEFPO for all other meetings such as for locals and area councils, regarding booking and billing. This process will be sent to the Executive Board for approval in
November 24, 2021 Executive Board Web Conference

The Executive Board was called to order at 9:38 a.m. President Thomas was in the Chair. All members were present. Maurice Gabay, Administrator of the Financial Service Division, Clarke Eaton, Advisor to the President and Linda Mariani, Executive Assistant to the President, were also in attendance.

 

Treasurer’s Report- Budget 2022

First Vice President/Treasurer Almeida presented the 2022 budget to the Executive Board.

 

December 15-16, 2021 Executive Board Web Conference

The Executive Board was called to order at 9:37 a.m. President Thomas was in the Chair. All members were present except, Edie Strachan, with reason acceptable to the Chair. Linda Mariani, Executive Assistant to the President was also in attendance.

 

Consent Agenda

The agenda was amended to add:

  • Sudbury Bids
  • Branding
  • PHRC Report
  • OPSEU/SEFPO PHRC – Member Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Training
  • Sector 1 (in camera)
  • Staff Hiring Process
  • Provincial politics
  • Resolution HR5 compliance
  • External supply companies
  • Executive Board Member, Ken Steinbrunner’ s Motion: Additional Board/Officer Meetings
  • The OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board Minutes of the October 27-28, 2021 and November 24, 2021Executive Board web conference and the November 10, 2021 OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board E- Poll – ASU Ratification Vote were adopted

 

The agenda was amended to remove:

  • JP Hornick, Chair of CAAT-A Bargaining Team – CAAT-A Bargaining – Presentation

 

Business Arising
  • From the July 21, 2021 Executive Board Meeting: Mental Health Instructor Training: was replaced with
  • MHFA Basic Course Facilitator Training: the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board approve the funds as outlined in this proposal from the Contingency Fund to provide virtual training entitled Mental Health First Aid Basic Facilitator for up to 8 OPSEU/SEFPO members from each
  • Referral from the March 24-25, 2021 Executive Board Meeting: OFL Election campaign plan-work in progress
Treasurer’s Report
  • Financials
  • Contingency Fund
  • Constituency Fund
  • Defence Fund
  • ODSP Fund – OPS Job Protection Fund
  • ODSP Fund – MERC Action Plan
  • ODSP Fund – OPS Redeployment Fund
  • LBED – Anti-privatization Fund
  • Other Business
  • Paying remaining funds owning on OPSEU/ SEFPO Training Facilities: that remainder of the money owed to the Education Training and Conference Centre be paid to the Strike
  • TARs Arrears Account-funds associated with Local TARs in arrears will be placed in a separate account for up to 36 months and/or until the TARS are up to date within the 36 months; and these funds will be reported in the First Vice President and Treasures Financial Reports; and staff will review funds quarterly and make required adjustment to fund as per policy
  • Hold in Trust Unspent PUA funds: that the remaining PUA funds for each region at the end of the year will be placed in separate account that is to be no more than one year’s
  • Additional Local Rebate : 2021 that a portion of the savings from the 2021 budget year will be allocated to a special onetime disbursement to all locals as an additional rebate cheque for 2021 to assist Locals with

 

resources they require; and that locals that do not have their TARs up to date will have these funds held in trust for no more than 36 months and/or until the TARS are up to date.

  • Debt Repayment Fund: Table and discuss later at the December 15-16, 2021 Board Meeting until after in an in camera session
  • Sudbury Bibs: Discussion
Presidents Report

 

Internal Issues

  • 7-Eleven Liquor Licence Tribunal Hearings: OPSEU/SEFPO provide individual members who choose to act as Objectors in LAT online hearings with paid time off and expenses as per OPSEU/SEFPO policy to attend the virtual LAT hearings, with funds to be drawn from the contingency fund; and OPSEU/SEFPO provide funding for legal costs outlined in the appendix B to retain counsel to represent the member Objectors in hearings already scheduled for 7-Eleven locations in Sarnia, Eglinton Avenue, London, and Oshawa, and any other location necessary with funds to be drawn from the contingency fund; and legal funding is provided on the condition that the legal counsel retained and their rates are approved by General Counsel and that counsel provide satisfactory updates as the matter continues; and the LBED Divisional Executive may seek additional funding for future legal costs associated with the 7-Eleven hearings, and that such funds if approved would be drawn from the LBED anti-privatization
  • CAAT Mental Injury Project: the OPSEU Executive Board approve funding to assist the divisions in implementing the Mental Injury Project toolkit throughout our 24 Colleges as per the submitted
  • AODA update: Discussion
  • Black Creek Community Farm Donation: OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board approve a donation to Black Creek Community Farm’s Take-Home dinner in the amount indicated in the
  • 2022 LBED Anti-Privatization Committee meetings: the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board approve the funds as outlined in the attached from the LBED Anti-Privatization Account to enable the Committee to hold up to 8 meetings in 2022 in order to effectively carry out its mandate to co-ordinate the Division’s fightback to privatized alcohol sales and
  • HDPP Complaint 2021-0376-0004- effective immediately, as per article 7.2.2 the Respondent shall be removed from any office they may hold within OPSEU/SEFPO; and the Respondent will complete training on Anti-Black Racism within 2 years; and
  • Be it further resolved that the Respondent can run again for office upon completion of the required training; and the Respondent will be notified of the Executive Board’s decision within 7 days and be provided dates to complete training on Anti-Black Racism within 30

 

Central Labour Updates (OFL/NUPGE/CLC)
  • President Thomas provided an

 

Staffing Issues – In Camera

 

 

Committee Reports

  • Convention: Update provided
  • Coalition of Racialized Workers: Update provided
    • Executive Board Member, Kingsley Kwok’s Motion: ANKOBEA Donation: the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board donates the amount listed in the proposal to ANKOBEA and funds to be drawn from the contingencies
  • Disability Rights Caucus: Updated provided
  • Pension Liaison
    • Pension Liaison Committee recommendation to the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board for the extension of CAAT Trustee appointments-Siobhan Harrison’s term on the Pathway Pension Plan be extended for the period of January 1, 2021 – February 28, 2022 to allow time for the members to hold their election and to bring a new motion to the board confirming the members elected candidate, provided Siobhan Harrison signs the Letter of Understanding provided by

 

OPSEU/SEFPO.

  • Derek Dobson, CEO of the CAAT Pension Plan provided a presentation to the Executive Board

– in camera

  • Staff Pension Plan: Update provided
  • PHRC
    • OPSEU/SEFPO PHRC – Member Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Training: the OPSEU/SEFPO PHRC members receive Mental Health First Aid Training; and all normal PHRC committee expenses be covered and the funding be drawn from the contingency
  • Strategic Planning: Update provided

 

New Business
  • Executive Board Member Motion: Additional Board/Officer Meetings: OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board will meet on January 5 and January 6, 2022. The agenda at a minimum but not limited to will include all unfinished business and an in camera meeting that will discuss at a minimum but not limited to “staffing issues”; and should these meeting days not be sufficient to complete the business of the union as identified by the Executive Board that further meeting dates for the Executive Board will be added on January 12 and January 13, 2022 to complete the business of the union as outlined in the previous whereas; and the Officers of the board shall be immediately canvassed by the President’s office to determine which date(s) they will meet prior to these additional Executive Board meeting dates to hold Executive Committee meetings; and time off letters will be sent as quickly as possible to book the executive board members off of work to attend the meetings dates outlined in this motion. Executive committee letters will be sent as soon as the dates are determined; and should quorum not be obtained for the first day of these meetings that the second day of the meetings will still be
  • Regional Meetings 2022: OPSEU/SEFPO delegates will be able to attend the 2022 Regional Meeting in-person or virtually; and the 2022 Regional Meetings be conducted as a hybrid event, with the ability to go forward as a sole virtual event if Public Health and/or the Provincial Government no longer allows for in-person Regional Meetings; and the RVPs will be work with the appropriate OPSEU/SEFPO staff (as decided by the President) to provide input and ensure that regional considerations are
  • Hardship Fund 2021:the Regional Hardship Committees receive two-times the funding in 2022 than what is allotted under the OPSEU/SEFPO Policy; and these funds be taken from the surplus 2021 monies.
  • Executive Board Member Motion: Strike Fund: OPSEU/SEFPO move 25% of the unspent of the 2021 surplus into the OPSEU/SEFPO Strike Fund; and issue a public statement announcing the increase in the strike fund and the need for the labour movement to engage in mutual aid and solidarity with those who engage in strike

 

January 5-6, 2022 Executive Board Web Conference

The Executive Board was called to order at 9:31 a.m. President Thomas was in the Chair. All members were present except, Tara Langford and Kenneth Maclam, reason acceptable to the Chair. Linda Mariani, Executive Assistant to the President was also in attendance.

 

Consent Agenda

The agenda was amended to add:

  • Board Advocacy
  • Expenditures: tabled until in camera session
  • Auditing
  • Whistle Blower
  • Hiring into Excluded Positions and ASU

 

Unfinished Business
  • Debt Repayment Fund
  • Organizational Chart: there be an organizational chart created that includes the titles and names of staff members (permanent and acting/contract) from the supervisory level, upward; and this organizational chart

 

be made available to the Executive Board; and this organizational chart be updated within a time frame that is reasonable to the Executive Board.

  • Constitutional Interpretation: the constitutional amendment that the President stated he made regarding whether a Member can hold a seat on an Equity Committee and the Executive Board at the same time be provided to the Executive Board no later than January 7, 2022; and this matter be brought to the Executive Committee meeting in January 2022 for the President to consult the Executive Committee on the
  • Boycotts : M3 resolution 2019: Discussion
  • Branding: OPSEU/SEFPO develop and implement a corporate policy on branding which must be approved by the OPSEU/SEFPO board; creating templates and guidelines for signage, messaging and other forms of public advertising wherever and whenever our corporate brand is public facing; and that these templates and guidelines may be amended from time to time, however these amendments must be submitted to the Executive Board of OPSEU/SEFPO for approval; and that buildings that are owned by OPSEU/SEFPO are to be immediately identified for electronic signage; and electronic signs are to be installed at these properties modelled on the sign at the Thunder Bay regional office; and these electronic signs may be either on or near OPSEU/SEFPO buildings, but the location of the electronic signs should be decided with input of the Executive Board Members of the region the signs are located; and these electronic signs and their messaging will be preferably controlled from Head Office by Campaigns and Communications staff or if need be by on site staff; and Executive Board Members from each region may request signage( messaging) changes through the President’s office to be relayed to appropriate staff or department; and staff are to communicate with the owners of all buildings that are leased by OPSEU/SEFPO that we desire to have electronic signs placed on or near leased OPSEU/SEFPO buildings with our branding; and that this policy would not impact Locals ,Divisions or Sectors that may wish to purchase signs for messaging from time to time; and the funds for this initiative come from budget proposals submitted to the board for approval.
  • Staff Hiring Process: WAS DEFEATED
  • Provincial Politics: that any representative of OPSEU SEFPO, using their OPSEU SEFPO title or representing OPSEU SEFPO, will not endorse or indicate any support for the officials of the Progressive Conservative government in Ontario or with candidates or representatives of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario.
New Business
  • Auditing (Forensic Audit): the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board approve the hiring of a Forensic Accountant to conduct a forensic audit of OPSEU/SEFPO’s finances, procedures, RFP’s, etc.;and the Forensic Accountant be hired by the Regional Vice Presidents and report to the Regional Vice Presidents on a weekly basis with any findings, progress and recommendations to date; and the Regional Vice Presidents will update and discuss with the Executive Board at each meeting; and this work begin January 2022; and a forensic audit will be conducted now and every 5 (five) years from now; and interim reports from the Forensic Accountant be provided directly to the Executive Board along with a presentation and question period by the author(s) as requested the Executive Board; and the final report will also be provided directly to the Executive Board along with a presentation and question period by the author(s).
  • Whistle Blower: OPSEU/SEFPO commit to having a Whistle-blower Policy that will provide support and protections from reprisals to people who report actions that violate policies, both internally and externally and ensures for fair and equitable treatment to all parties involved; and the Executive Board Members on the Policy Review Committee engage with the consultant of Scribe Technical Writers and Editors to determine if there is the ability and interest of the consultant to provide/create a policy for us the Executive Board to consider for approval; and

if Scribe Technical Writers and Editors is not able or interested in providing such a policy, that the Policy Review Committee be tasked with providing a draft policy to the Executive Board for amendment and approval.

  • A motion was brought forward and voted on in Camera: Board Advocacy

 

February 16, 2022 Executive Board Web Conference

 

The Executive Board was called to order at 9:35 a.m. First Vice-President/Treasurer Almeida was in the Chair. All members were present except, Warren (Smokey) Thomas, with reason acceptable to the Chair. Linda Mariani, Executive Assistant to the President was also in attendance.

 

Consent Agenda

The agenda was amended to add:

  • Motion adopted by the Executive Board on Organizing Active Mass Vi
  • sible Support for Healthcare Workers (Arscott)
  • Emergencies Act (Arscott)
  • Member in Good Standing (Nancekivell)
  • Vaccination Policy (Nancekivell)
  • Policy Review Committee Update (Nancekivell)
  • OPSEU/SEFPO Corporate Communications/ Policy on Election Procedures for Candidates (Van Zetten)
  • PLC Committee Report: OMERS Update (Perron)
  • Convention Planning Committee Report – Wednesday, February 16, 2022 at 1:30pm (Langford)
  • Labour Council Dues and New Units (Strachan)
  • Boycott Motion (Nancekivell)
  • Amendments and Resolutions to Convention (Nancekivell)
  • ONA – Retention Bonus (Morton)
  • Return to Work for Staff and Reopening of Offices (Almeida)
  • Trusteeship Discussion with OPSEU/SEFPO General Counsel Eric O’Brien – Thursday, February 17, 2022 at 9:30am (Almeida)
  • CPAC Presentation – Thursday, February 17, 2022 at 11:00am (Almeida)
  • The OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board adopt the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board Minutes of the January 19-20, 2022 Executive Board web conference and the January 28, 2022 OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board E-Poll : CAAT- A Bargaining Ad Buy- January 2022 were adopted

 

Business Arising
  • Referral from the March 24-25, 2021 Executive Board Meeting
    • OFL Election Campaign Plan: REFERRAL to committee
  • Referral from the December 14-15, 2021 Executive Board Meeting
    • Expenditures: Table until in camera session
  • Referral from the January 5-6, 2022 Executive Board Meeting
    • Auditing (Forensic Audit):work in progress
    • Branding: work in progress
  • Referral from the January 19-20, 2022 Executive Board Meeting
    • 2022 OPSEU/SEFPO Convention Agenda: the Executive Board approve the 2022 OPSEU Convention Agenda with the suggested changes
    • External Supply Company: work in progress
Presidents Report

 

Central Labour Updates (OFL/NUPGE/CLC)

  • President Thomas provided an
Treasurer’s Report
  • Financials
  • Contingency Fund
  • Constituency Fund
  • Defence Fund
  • ODSP Fund – OPS Job Protection Fund
  • ODSP Fund – MERC Action Plan

 

  • ODSP Fund – OPS Redeployment Fund
  • LBED – Anti-privatization Fund
  • Access to OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board and Committee Meeting Minutes: all previous minutes on file and future minutes from OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board and Executive Committee meetings be stored and accessed via the OPSEU/SEFPO Member Portal and be removed from the OPSEU/SEFPO
  • Return to Work for Staff and Reopening Offices –Discussion
Committee Report
  • Coalition of Racialized Workers
    • Peter Thompson, Chair of the Coalition of Racialized Workers (CoRW), provided a presentation on Coalition of Racialized Workers Constitutional
    • Coalition of Racialized Workers-Constitutional Amendment: the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board support and submit a Constitutional Amendment in partnership with CoRW to Convention 2022 to designate OPSEU/SEFPO’s Coalition of Racialized Workers as a provincial equity committee under Article 19 of the
  • Convention
    • Kathleen Demareski, Convention Coordinator was present to answer
    • Blue Jays Tickets during OPSEU/SEFPO 2022 Convention: OPSEU/SEFPO will secure tickets for two Blue Jays game events during the OPSEU/SEFPO 2022
    • Comedy Night at the OPSEU/SEFPO 2022 Convention: WAS DEFEATED
    • Hospitality Suites at the OPSEU/SEFPO 2022 Convention: WAS DEFEATED
    • Reconsideration of the October 27-28, 2021 Executive Board Motion: Convention 2022 Motion
:WAS DEFEATED
  • Disability Rights Caucus: update provided
  • Indigenous Circle
    • Water Resolution: the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board financially support the water first internship program in the amount requested; and this donation be made annually and the funds be drawn from the Contingency
    • Water Summit (Water is a Human Right): the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board approve the funds outlined in the attached proposal; and these funds be drawn from the Contingency
  • In Solidarity: update provided
  • Pension Liaison
    • Pension Liaison Committee recommendation to the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board for the appointment of the Alternate Pathways Pension Plan Sponsor Committee Representative – Angela Fothergill: that Angela Fothergill be appointed to position of Alternate Sponsor Representative to the Pathways Pension Plan Sponsor Committee for the period of January 1, 2022 – December 31, 2024, provided Angela Fothergill signs the Letter of Understanding provided by OPSEU/SEFPO.
    • Pension Liaison Committee recommendation to the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board for the appointment of an Alternate Pathways Pension Plan Trustee – Stacey Callahan: that Stacey Callahan be appointed to position of Alternate Pension Trustee to the Pathways Pension Plan for the period of January 1, 2022 – December 31, 2024, provided Stacey Callahan signs the Letter of Understanding provided by OPSEU/SEFPO.
    • Pension Liaison Committee recommendation to the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board for the appointment of Pathways Pension Plan Trustee – Siobhan Harrison: that Siobhan Harrison be appointed to position of Pension Trustee to the Pathways Pension Plan for the period of January 1, 2022 – December 31, 2024, provided Siobhan Harrison signs the Letter of Understanding provided by OPSEU/SEFPO.
    • Pension Liaison Committee recommendation to the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board for the appointment of Pathways Pension Plan Sponsor Committee Representative – Charmaine McLean: that Charmaine McLean be appointed to position of Sponsor Representative to the Pathways Pension Plan Sponsor Committee for the period of January 1, 2022 – December 31, 2024, provided Charmaine McLean signs the Letter of Understanding provided by OPSEU/SEFPO.

 

  • Pension Liaison Committee recommendation to the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board for the appointment of CAAT Pension Plan Trustee – Donald Wright: that Donald Wright be appointed as a pension trustee for the CAAT Pension Plan from January 1, 2022 until December 31, 2024, provided Donald Wright signs the Letter of Understanding provided by OPSEU/SEFPO.
  • Stipend for Retirees: OPSEU/SEFPO remit an honorarium/stipend to retired trustees and representatives who sit on the boards of a pension plan co-sponsored by OPSEU/SEFPO; the honorarium/stipend, after statutory deductions, will be consistent with the amount in the attached appendix to this motion; and the individual trustee or representative will be required to submit monthly, via an electronic method, the meeting dates that they attended to the supervisor of pensions and benefits and to the board members of the pension liaison committee; and the trustee/representative will be eligible to receive the honorarium/stipend for any board or committee meetings that are directly related to their role on that board as a trustee or representative as the case may be; and

the individual trustee/representative will not be eligible to receive the honorarium/stipend for any dates that were spent in travel, education, or training courses that they attended; and OPSEU/SEFPO will remit the honorarium/stipend to the individual trustee/representative quarterly; and the individual trustee/representative will be issued a T4 or other appropriate Canada Revenue Agency record of any remittance for monies related to the total honorarium/stipend for a calendar year; and a retiree trustee or representative who works in retirement for an OPSEU/SEFPO employer or works directly for OPSEU/SEFPO will not be eligible for this stipend/honorarium. A retiree trustee or representative who works in retirement for an OPSEU/SEFPO employer or works directly for OPSEU/SEFPO will not be eligible for this stipend/honorarium.

  • OMERS update: Discussion
  • Policy Review Ad-hoc: Discussion
  • Central Political Action
    • CPAC Presentation: Michelle Langlois, Campaigns Officer, was present for the
    • CPAC Ads Against Bill 124 and Bill 195: OPSEU/SEFPO allocate funds from the contingency fund for a social media and sticker campaign that raises awareness among our members and the general public in Ontario about the real harms to workers and Ontarians as a whole that have been created by Bill 124 and Bill
  • PYC
    • Young Worker Mentorship Program: OPSEU/SEFPO organizes and creates a standing, annual, six month “Young Worker Mentorship Program” with OPSEU/SEFPO EBMs and Equity Committee/Caucus Reps for members that are young workers and who are selected by the Provincial Young Workers Committee. Referral back to the committee
  • Rainbow Alliance
    • Referral from February 16, 2022 Executive Board Meeting: Drag Show at the OPSEU/SEFPO 2022 Convention: OPSEU/SEFPO hold an event decided by RAA if they choose to do so in the evening at Convention; and if the Rainbow Alliance wishes to hold an event, it will be advertised at that
  • Retirees Board: update provided
  • Executive Committee (Officers) Update
    • Assignment of Diagnostic Imaging unit of all MRT’s and Sonographers at Almonte General Hospital to OPSEU/SEFPO L491: the Executive Board adopt the recommendation from the Executive Committee that the 18 members of the Diagnostic Imaging unit of all MRT’s and Sonographers at the Almonte Hospital become members of OPSEU/SEFPO Local
    • Local 318 transfer to Local 369: the Executive Board adopt the recommendation from the Executive Committee to approve the transfer of all members of Local 318 who work for the Ministry of the Solicitor General, from the Midland Probation and Parole Office to Local 369 Central North Correctional

 

New Business

 

  • 7-Eleven Liquor Licence Tribunal Hearings: OPSEU/SEFPO provide funding as indicated in the proposal for legal costs to represent the Objectors in hearings scheduled for six appeals filed by 7- Eleven, with funds to be drawn from the LBED anti-privatization fund; and legal funding is provided on the condition that the legal counsel retained and their rates are approved by General Counsel and that counsel provide satisfactory updates as the matter
  • Education Member Mobilizers-February 2022: the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board approve the funds as outlined in this proposal from the Contingency Fund. The funds will provide the opportunity for two education worker member mobilizers to assist in organizing education groups to move towards the end goal of obtaining a sole OPSEU/SEFPO central bargaining
  • Ambulance Communication Officers’ (ACOs) Public Awareness Campaign: the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board provide funding for a campaign to raise public and political awareness as per the attached proposal with funds to be drawn from the Contingency
  • Member Engagement Phase 1 – February 2022: the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board approve the funds as outlined in this proposal from the Contingency Fund. The funds will provide the opportunity for phase one of a multi-phase membership outreach plan that will facilitate and strengthen relationship building amongst OPSEU/SEFPO members and identify new and creative ways to successfully engage members.
  • Member in Good Standing (Local 170): the President’s Office notify Tracey Roberts that the Executive Board will review their membership in accordance with article 16.10 of the OPSEU/SEFPO Constitution, and provide them with an opportunity to present their views in writing, no later than March 4, 2022; and the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board will consider any written materials received from the member, and will then vote on a motion to suspend Tracey Roberts from membership in good standing.
  • Local 560 Trusteeship: The Chair ruled the motion out of
  • Local 560 Meetings: the L560 meeting scheduled for March 3rd 2022 be an LEC/Stewards elections instead of a GMM; and a second day be scheduled for Regional and Convention
  • Equity Development Training for Equity Committees & Caucuses: that OPSEU/SEFPO organizes and creates a standing, Equity Development Training Program for newly elected, selected or appointed Equity Committee and Caucus Reps; and this training take place no more than 90 days once elected, selected or appointed to an equity committee or caucus or after Convention, whichever comes
  • Advances/Expense : Discussion :work in progress
  • Motion adopted by the Executive Board on Organizing Active Mass Visible Support for Healthcare Workers :Discussion
  • Emergencies Act: OPSEU/ SEFPO oppose the federal liberal government’s implementation of the Emergencies Act, and that we issue a public statement expressing our opposition to the act; and OPSEU/SEFPO call on NUPGE to issue a similar release as OPSEU/SEFPO in opposing the implementation of the Emergencies
  • Vaccination Policy: Discussion :work in progress
  • OPSEU/SEFPO Corporate Communication and Policy on Candidate Procedures
  • Labour Council Dues and New Units: Discussion
  • Amendments and Resolutions to Convention: Discussion :work in progress

 

Donations

OPSEU Annual Standing Donations:

Amount Donated Amount
G.T.A. Injured Worker Resource Centre                                 1,250.00 1,250.00
CCPA                                                                                      5,000.00 5,000.00
Rainford Jackson Educ. Fund                                                             – 2,500.00
Canadian Civil Liberties                                                           1,250.00 1,250.00
Ont. Coalition for Better Daycare                                               500.00 500.00
Workers’ Arts & Heritage Center                                             5,000.00 5,000.00
Helen Kiss Memorial Bursary                                                  1,000.00 1,000.00
Andre Bekerman Bursary                                                          750.00 750.00
National Movement for Harmony                                           2,500.00 2,500.00
Donna Bryant Memorial Fund                                                 1,000.00 1,000.00
Our Times                                                                                1,000.00 1,000.00
Stephen Lewis Fund                                                              25,000.00 25,000.00
The Leonard Peltier Fund                                                        2,500.00 2,500.00
Brian MacIntosh Memorial Fund                                                250.00 250.00
Bill Kuehnbaum Bursary                                                             250.00 250.00
Larry Cripps Bursary/Scholarship                                           1,000.00 1,000.00
Carol McGregor Scholarship                                                  1,500.00 1,500.00
Curt Bishop Scholarship                                                          1,000.00 1,000.00
L.E.A.F. Patron Sponsorship                                                   5,000.00 5,000.00
Mayworks Festival of Working People                                    2,000.00 2,000.00
Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic                                     750.00 750.00
Speakers School                                                                     2,250.00 2,250.00
Peter Kormos Memorial Bursury                                            1,000.00 1,000.00
Amy Stiles Scholarship                                                           1,000.00 1,000.00
Ontario Autism Coalition                                                        10,000.00 10,000.00
Bloodwatch.org                                                                      10,000.00 10,000.00
Karen Gottschalk-Millar Memorial Sch                                   1,000.00 1,000.00
Fred Upshaw Scholarship                                                       1,000.00 1,000.00
Other Donations

TUR1032/A. Turner – Donation for Ad/Sponsorship               4,000.00

Donations – Approved at Committee/Board Meetings

 

Amount Donated Amount
Donation to SHARE
(Shareholder Association for Research and Education)       25,000.00 25,000.00
International Workers Day (May Day)                                    1,000.00 1,000.00
Pay Equity Coalition Judicial Review                                    10,070.15 10,000.00
Donation to CUBGW                                                               5,000.00 5,000.00
Ontario network of Injured Workers Groups Donation            5,000.00 5,000.00
Community Mobile Unit (Urban Rez Solutions)                    20,000.00 20,000.00
Black Lives Matter Sudbury                                                    4,000.00 4,000.00
Black Creek Community Farm                                               5,000.00 5,000.00
Jane-Finch Housing Coalition                                                 5,000.00 5,000.00
South Asian Forum                                                                     550.00 1,000.00
Harmony Movement Donation                                                5,000.00 5,000.00
Donation to West Indian Association                                       5,000.00 5,000.00
Donation to the Mennonite Central Committee of Timmins 20,000.00 20,000.00

 

Local 5117 Hardship Committee 20,000.00 20,000.00
Region 3 Hardship-Barrie Tornado aftermath 20,000.00 20,000.00
Donation -Evacuation costs associated with forest fires
in Region 7 20,000.00 20,000.00
Saugeen First Nation Donation 10,000.00 10,000.00
Remember Me March Donation 20,000.00 20,000.00
Black Creek Community Farm Donation 10,000.00 10,000.00
ANKOBEA Donation 10,000.00 10,000.00

 

Affiliations

 

NUPGE website story on the 2021 annual report: “While this report looks back, we are focused on the future. There will be challenges ahead but we’ll face them. As we recover from the last 2 years, we remain hopeful. It’s time to reimagine our world. And we will do that—together.” — Larry Brown, NUPGE President

 

Ottawa (14 Dec. 2021) — Each year, the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) publishes an accounting of the work it has undertaken. This Annual Report provides insight into the union’s activities — from occupational group meetings, to issue-based projects, to research and government relations. Every web site story, with links to the NUPGE website, can be found in the report, as well as samples of our social media.

 

2021 in Review

As Larry Brown, NUPGE President says in the opening letter, “2021 has been an incredible year. As we moved through lockdowns, outbreaks, and reopenings, we witnessed patience, perseverance, and a large dose of courage. This last year, our focus on the well-being and rights of workers and the public paid off, as we leveraged our collective power to force governments to continue providing support and benefits to those impacted by this health crisis. We pressured governments and employers to increase their care and concern for the most vulnerable people in our communities, including our seniors. Our calls for action were relentless.” “This report is a way of presenting the great work our union does across this country,” said Bert Blundon, NUPGE Secretary-Treasurer. “The issues on our plate are way more than we have sketched out here. I know we can conquer the challenges that face us. We have seen a glimpse of what is possible in the face of crisis— not only communities coming together but also governments mobilizing the necessary resources to address a crisis through a strong public sector.”

“But we know we would be no where without our members working the front line and behind the scenes,” said Blundon.”So, we want to thank them. Without their determination, commitment, and good humour, our challenges may have overwhelmed us. But they were there at every step, working hard, putting themselves on the line, to serve the communities they love.”

“While this report looks back, we are focused on the future,” said Brown. “There will be challenges ahead but we’ll face them. As we recover from the last 2 years, we remain hopeful. It’s time to reimagine our world. And we will do that—together.”

 

Issues and Campaigns

Anti-racism BIPOC Rights Child Care COVID-19

Diversity and Inclusion in our Unions Domestic Violence and the Workplace Federal Election 2021

Indigenous Rights International Solidarity Labour Rights LGBTQI2S+ Rights Medicare

Occupational Health and Safety Pensions and Retirement Security Privatization

Rights for People with Disabilities Trade

Transgender Rights Value of Public Services Women’s Issues Economic fightback

 

Why Unions Matter

 

NUPGE

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada’s largest labour organizations with over 390,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good.

 

While our Components are located from coast to coast, the office of the National Union of Public and General Employees is situated on the traditional unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg people and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities.

 

We recognize and acknowledge the crimes that have been committed and the harm that has been done.

 

And, we dedicate ourselves, as a union, to moving forward in partnership with Indigenous Peoples in a spirit of reconciliation and striving for justice. — NUPGE

 

2021-2022 Executive Board Committees

Indigenous Circle – Ken Maclam

Audit Ed Arvelin, Tara Langford, Tara Maszczakiewicz  Central Political Action –Geoff Cain, Sara Labelle, Ken Maclam Coalition of Racialized Workers – Kingsley Kwok

Convention: Resolutions – Laurie Nancekivell; Constitutional – Ken Steinbrunner;

Credentials – Tara Langford; Planning – Tara Langford

Disability Rights Liaison Joel Usher Excluded Staff Hiring Ed Arvelin Francophone Committee Maggie Wakeford

Highest Ranking Female (NUPGE & OFL Seats) – Sara Labelle

In Solidarity Board Liaison – Tara Maszczakiewicz

MDT/SDT Ad HocEd Arvelin, Maggie Wakeford

OPSEU Resource Centre/Enterprises Lucy Morton, Dave Doran

OPSEU Staff Pension Plan Trustees Janel Perron, Drew Finucane, Ken Steinbrunner, Edie Strachan

Pension Liaison Janel Perron, Ken Steinbrunner

PHRC Board Liaison Erin Smith-Rice PWC Board Liaison Jennifer Van Zetten PYWC Board Liaison Drew Finucane Rainbow Alliance Liaison Erin Smith-Rice Retirees Board Liaison Dave Doran Social Mapping Project Laurie Nancekivell

Solidarity Fund Board: HIV/Aids Work (Live and Let Live); International Humanity Work; International Solidarity Work;    Dave Doran, Joel Usher, Jennifer Van Zetten

Staff Negotiating Tara Maszczakiewicz, Edie Strachan, Ken Maclam, Ken Steinbrunner

Strategic Planning Lucy Morton, Tara Maszczakiewicz, Sara Labelle

 

Strategic Planning

This term we were successful in recognizing and addressing the need for education of our Board regarding governance.

 

What is Governance and why:

 

Governance today is more important than ever. It is all the processes of the set of rules that are designed to ensure accountability, transparency responsiveness while dictating corporate behavior. Good governance encompasses ethics, risk management while ensuring compliance of policies and processes.

 

Governance is the process by which we are directed, controlled and held to account.

 

The present Board has completed training from an external source recently. Plans have been put into place that the next Board (2022-2024) will be quickly educated on governance, within the first months of being elected.

 

 

 

Enterprise

We have tentatively secured liability insurance for our Sector 1 that may be obtained by the individual. We are also looking into liability insurance for PSW’s. We presently have multiple medical providers that have accessed their own personal liability insurance at a very reasonable cost.

 

We have also looking at having a computer program for our Locals that would allow increased accessibility for the Local to reach out to their members. This program would allow each local, multiple choices, to provide easy access to your Local members. These programs could include emails, phone calls etc to meet the individual members/locals needs ie phone calls, emails etc. It also would allow to compartmentalize and target specific member groups ie FTE, PTE, Relief etc.

There are a few locals who are presently trialing this. We are looking at the ability this program has to support each individual Local needs. The result(s) will be assessed by the 2022-2024 committee for feasibility and costing for the Union as a whole or individual Locals.

 

Record of Minority Reports

A motion was made and ruled out of order

March 24-25, 2021– Julius Arscott, Geoff Cain, Kingsley Kwok, Sara Labelle, Laurie Nancekivell, Janel Perron, Edie Strachan, Joel Usher, Jennifer Van Zetten

Chair was challenged, Chair was upheld Sara Labelle- RVP, Region 3

I filed a minority report as I did not agree with the rationale why the motions were ruled out of order. Basic rules

of parliamentary procedure is to ensure justice and courtesy for all, to maintain order, but to do so in a way that all sides get to be heard. The ability for each member to rpovide input and the protection of the rights of all members including the minority are the guiding principles of Robert’s Rules of Order. Each board member is able to submit motions to board meetings for discussion Ruling motions out of order because they are not in line with your own views is not the role of the Chair. Good governance means we have debate and discussion and allow voices to be heard, those voices can not be heard if their motions are ruled out of order. If a motion is not offensive, doesn’t violate the Constitution or OPSEU/SEFPO policies or OPSEU/SEFPO Staff Collective Agreements then there is no reason a motion can not be introduced at least for purposes of debate and ensuring all voices are heard. Should someone not agree with the motion they can speak against, if there are certain parts of the motion that someone agrees with but not all they can move amendments – none of this can occur if a motion is not allowed to be introduced. Ruling a motion out of order can stifle debate.

 

Laurie Nancekivell-RVP, Region 1

This motion requested the Convention Planning Committee to prepare for contingency plans for the 2022 Convention, allowing elections to be conducted and provide updates to the Executive Board, including information learned re: election platforms available. This motion was ruled out of order by the Chair, which I disagreed with. This motion was well within the rights of the Executive Board to discuss and debate. A Chairperson disagreeing with the motion and not wanting to support it, does not constitute a reason to rule the motion out of order.

 

Janel Perron-EBM, Region 3

The Executive Board frequently gives instructions to committees. As the second highest authority in the union, after convention, the board has an obligation and a duty to instruct committees. I believe the chair was out of order when this motion was ruled out of order.

 

Joel Usher-EBM, Region 3
  • The Chair had ruled a similar motion out of order at the previous meeting and this motion aimed to take his rationale for ruling that motion out of order into account and utilize the existing Convention Planning Committee to achieve the same

goal: taking proactive steps to increase the likelihood of holding the 2022 OPSEU/SEFPO Annual Convention.

  • The motion should not have been ruled out of
  • It is within the OPSEU/SEFPO Board’s purview to offer direction to the

OPSEU/SEFPO Convention Planning Committee.

  • It recognized that two Conventions have already been
  • It was a proactive attempt to build contingency plans to maximize the opportunity

for continued democracy in our Union.

  • It was also a proactive attempt to maximize the opportunity for our Union’s most powerful decision-making body – Convention delegates – to make
  • Having democracy ensures those in elected positions have the confidence they

are operating with a mandate from the members they represent.

  • It respected Staff involvement

 

Jennifer Van Zetten- EBM- Region 1

A motion that comes to a board needs discussion and not continue to rule out of order based on opinion

 

A motion was made and ruled out of order March 24-25, 2021– Julius Arscott, Geoff Cain, Kingsley Kwok, Sara Labelle, Laurie Nancekivell, Janel Perron, Edie Strachan, Joel Usher, Jennifer Van Zetten

Chair was challenged, Chair was upheld Sara Labelle- RVP, Region 3

I filed a minority report as I did not agree with the rationale why the motions were ruled out of order. Basic rules of parliamentary procedure is to ensure justice and courtesy for all, to maintain order, but to do so in a way that all sides get to be heard. The ability for each member to rpovide input and the protection of the rights of all members including the minority are the guiding principles of Robert’s Rules of Order. Each board member is able to submit motions to board meetings for discussion Ruling motions out of order because they are not in line with your own views is not the role of the Chair. Good governance means we have debate and discussion and allow voices to be heard, those voices can not be heard if their motions are ruled out of order. If a motion is not offensive, doesn’t violate the Constitution or OPSEU/SEFPO policies or OPSEU/SEFPO Staff Collective Agreements then there is no reason a motion can not be introduced at least for purposes of debate and ensuring all voices are heard. Should someone not agree with the motion they can speak against, if there are certain parts of the motion that someone agrees with but not all they can move amendments – none of this can occur if a motion is not allowed to be introduced. Ruling a motion out of order can stifle debate.

 

Janel Perron-EBM, Region 3

The Executive Board frequently gives instructions to committees. As the second highest authority in the union, after convention, the board has an obligation and a duty to instruct committees. I believe the chair was out of order when this motion was ruled out of order.

 

Joel Usher-EBM, Region 3
  • The motion that the Chair ruled out of order sought for OPSEU/SEFPO to develop contingency plans for 2022 Regional Meetings in the event it remains unsafe/impermissible for hundreds of members to meet in person in March, 2022.
  • The motion should not have been ruled out of
  • It recognized that Regional Meetings have already been cancelled
  • It was a proactive attempt to build a contingency plan to maximize the

opportunity for continued democracy in our Union.

  • Having democracy ensures those in elected positions have the confidence they are operating with a mandate from the members they
  • It respected OPSEU/SEFPO Staff
  • It respected Regional diversity/geography.
  • It was timely.

 

Jennifer Van Zetten- EBM- Region 1

A motion that comes to a board needs discussion and not continue to rule out of order based on opinion. This would have been the beginning of the conversation on moving out of COVID and back to safely gathering with our members.

 

Statutory Resolution 1- E-Poll April 21, 2021- Joel Usher

 

Therefore be it resolved that in compliance with Article 26.2 of the Constitution and Section 97 of the Corporations Act, the Financial Statements for the 12-month period ending December 2020, including the Statement of Financial Position, the Statement of Revenue and Expenditures, the Statement of Fund Balances and the Statement of Cash Flows, together with the Auditors’ report thereon, and all transactions reflected

 

thereby be approved and that the President and First Vice-President/Treasurer be authorized to sign the financial statements on behalf of the Executive Board.

 

Joel Usher-EBM, Region 3
  • It is recognized that this resolution is
  • I submitted a minority report for the December 7, 2020 motion carried by the

Executive Board that postponed the 2021 OPSEU/SEFPO Annual Convention.

  • I am of the opinion that the 2021 Convention should have proceeded and that it

is contrary to the OPSEU/SEFPO Constitution that it did not.

  • Furthermore, it would have been redundant for me, an Executive Board Member, together with only other Executive Board Members, to vote in favour of a resolution to endorse the actions of the Executive

 

Statutory Resolution 3- E-Poll

April 21, 2021- Geoff Cain, Lucy Morton, Laurie Nancekivell, Janel Perron, Joel Usher, Jennifer Van Zetten

 

Therefore be it resolved that in compliance with Article 26.2 of the Constitution and Section 97 of the Corporations Act, the Financial Statements for the 12-month period ending December 2020, including the Statement of Financial Position, the Statement of Revenue and Expenditures, the Statement of Fund Balances and the Statement of Cash Flows, together with the Auditors’ report thereon, and all transactions reflected thereby be approved and that the President and First Vice-President/Treasurer be authorized to sign the financial statements on behalf of the Executive Board.

 

Janel Perron-EBM, Region 3

The audited financial statement presented by the audit committee was inaccurate. Multiple errors were brought to the attention of the committee and the answers provided were not fulsome and did not provide enough background information to give me confidence in their validity. Multiple board members raised questions and concerns and ultimately I was not in support of this motion.

 

Joel Usher-EBM, Region 3
  • It is recognized that this resolution is
  • I submitted a minority report for the December 7, 2020 motion carried by the

Executive Board that postponed the 2021 OPSEU/SEFPO Annual Convention.

  • I am of the opinion that the 2021 Convention should have proceeded and that it

is contrary to the OPSEU/SEFPO Constitution that it did not.

  • Convention delegates should have been given the opportunity to vote on this resolution.
  • I do not believe this resolution was in the spirit of the Constitution article it
  • Further, requests were made by fellow Executive Board Members for further discussion on this resolution prior to the e-poll vote and those requests were not granted.

 

Jennifer Van Zetten- EBM- Region 1

Not that I thought something was wrong or anything seriously was conducted inappropriately however given little information and time to have a discussion I was not in favor of the motion our financial stability we would need to have all proper information and provided to us

 

Delete Administrative Assistant, Communications Unit; Replace Administrative Assistant with a Secretary (Communications Division – Communications Unit)

April 21, 2021- Geoff Cain, Kingsley Kwok, Lucy Morton, Laurie Nancekivell, Janel Perron, Edie Strachan, Joel Usher, Jennifer Van Zetten

 

Therefore be it resolved that the Administrative Assistant be deleted from the organizational chart; and Be it further resolved that a permanent Secretary be added in its place using the 2021 budget already allocated to the Administrative Assistant position.

 

Laurie Nancekivell-RVP, Region 1

From my recollection, this is when OPSEU/SEFPO was stating it was not possible to hold job competitions in a virtual or safe manner due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I had spoken about the need for OPSEU/SEFPO to find a way to do this. I was then leery to approve matters requiring job postings that lead to staff being appointed versus using the job competition process.

 

Janel Perron-EBM, Region 3

There was not enough information provided on the need to eliminate the Administrative Assistant, Communications Unit position and replace it with a secretary in the same unit. I believe the president’s office should have provided more information on the need for this proposed change.

 

Joel Usher-EBM, Region 3

The rationale provided did not convince me of the necessity for this change.

 

Jennifer Van Zetten- EBM- Region 1

The range of placement on a vacancy and elimination of one staff to move to another department doesn’t replace the need for other vacancies within our Union

 

A motion was made and ruled out of order April 21, 2021- Janel Perron

 

Janel Perron-EBM, Region 3

The president’s office did not provide enough information as to the need for hiring 3 additional full time permanent staff positions in the Employee Relations Division. At the time the motion was brought forward there were multiple vacant staff positions within OPSEU/SEFPO in several units. These positions should have been posted and filled prior to adding any additional full time staff positions.

 

Extra Delegates to the Virtual 2021 CLC Convention

April 21, 2021- Laurie Nancekivell, Janel Perron, Edie Strachan, Joel Usher, and Jennifer Van Zetten

 

Therefore be it resolved that the requirements to be affiliated to a labour council in order for the extra delegates from that region to attend, be waived for this virtual 2021 CLC Convention; and

Be it further resolved that all locals not affiliated to a labour council will be encouraged to affiliate to their local labour council.

 

Laurie Nancekivell-RVP, Region 1

The Executive Board moved previous motions to allow for additional delegates to attend the CLC in a virtual manner for greater representation and learning experiences. I was in full support of that motion. In OPSEU/SEFPO’s Policy Manual, it states that “In order to be elected at an OPSEU Regional Meeting as a delegate to the OFL, NUPGE or CLC Convention, the delegate’s local must be affiliated with their District Labour Council unless the local is principally located more than 60 kms from the Labour Council’s regular meeting location.” OPSEU/SEFPO sends Members to these conventions that do not run specifically for these conventions at regional meetings (i.e., provincial equity committees and Executive Board Members). The motion at the Board on this date was to waive the Labour Council requirement to send delegates centrally to the CLC Convention. I spoke against this motion, as the requirement is solely for those elected at a Regional Meeting for this Convention. Additionally, I did not want it to appear as though OPSEU/SEFPO was not in full support of Labour Councils, which I believe this motion could have demonstrated. This motion was not required.

 

Janel Perron-EBM, Region 3

I believe that OPSEU/SEFPO should adhere to the approved delegate entitlement for the 2021 CLC virtual convention and that the union should encourage all locals to affiliate to their respective labour councils.

 

Joel Usher-EBM, Region 3
  • The Policy on the matter debated read as follows in the Policy Manual p. 2-2: “In order to be elected at an OPSEU Regional Meeting as a delegate to

the OFL, NUPGE or CLC Convention, the delegate’s local must be affiliated with their District Labour Council unless the local is principally located more than 60 kms from the Labour Council’s regular meeting location.”

  • Although I agreed with the intent of what this motion was trying to accomplish, I

voted against it.

  • I believe it was unnecessary given that, in this case, delegates were not being elected at Regional Meetings because the 2021 Regional Meetings did not

 

Jennifer Van Zetten- EBM- Region 1

A motion that comes to a board needs discussion and not continue to rule out of order based on opinion

 

A motion was made and ruled out of order

April 21, 2021- Julius Arscott, Geoff Cain, Kingsley Kwok, Sara Labelle, Lucy Morton, Laurie Nancekivell, Janel Perron, Edie Strachan, Joel Usher, Jennifer Van Zetten

 

Chair was challenged, Chair was upheld

 

Sara Labelle- RVP, Region 3

Legal representation for Boards of Directors (BOD) is good practice and good governance. I sit on other Boards where the BOD has access to independent legal advice in order to ensure that we are meeting our legal liabilities and obligations under good governance. As a board member and an officer of this union we have liabilities under the Corporations Act – we should have independent legal advice to provide unbiased opinions on decisions made by the BOD to ensure we are making sound decisions that will not harm OPSEU/SEFPO or it’s members.

 

Laurie Nancekivell-RVP, Region 1

I moved a motion to hire an impartial lawyer to provide independent legal advice directly to the Executive Board Members regarding their duties, obligations, and staffing matters, etc. There were some matters before the Board that I felt we needed our own advice for. From my experience on other Boards, it is common practice that when required, a Board would have advice specific to their responsibilities and needs. There are times that the Board needs advice that may be different than the Employer lawyer for the Union or the Corporate Lawyer. The Chair ruled this out of order, and this was then challenged. I supported the challenge as I know that this was good governance and appropriate for us. The Chair was upheld by the Board. Since this meeting, the Board received governance training and it was confirmed that Board’s receiving their own legal advice is appropriate, when required.

 

Janel Perron-EBM, Region 3

I believe that good governance practices mandate that a board of directors for a corporation have direct access to independent external legal counsel to help guide them in their duties. The current litigious climate in Canada, and Ontario, has potentially placed greater liability on boards of directors, and as a large well known public union, the Executive Board of OPSEU/SEFPO, needs to have timely accurate advice in order to discharge their responsibilities with confidence.

 

Joel Usher-EBM, Region 3
  • It is my belief that it is important for members of a Board of Directors with legal

 

Obligations/liabilities to know the extent of those obligations/liabilities, their liability coverage and have a clear avenue to access that coverage.

  • It is also my belief that this motion would have assisted in achieving those good governance

 

Jennifer Van Zetten- EBM- Region 1

A motion that comes to a board needs discussion and not continue to rule out of order based on opinion

 

 

Palestine Solidarity

May 26-27, 2021- Julius Arscott filed a Minority Report.

 

Therefore be it resolved that OPSEU/SEFPO condemn the attack by Israeli forces at Al-Aqsa Mosque, preceded by Israel’s support for right wing settlers’ confiscation of Palestinian homes in Sheikh Jarrah, in Occupied East Jerusalem. We stand in solidarity with the people of Palestine and call on the Canadian government to condemn Israeli actions. We demand that the federal government permanently halt the sale of weapons to Israel. We endorse the international peaceful Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign and also express our solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel who are participating in general strike action, which began on Tuesday, May 18, 2021.

 

The question was called on the motion as amended in camera

August 25, 2021- Julius Arscott, Kingsley Kwok, Sara Labelle and Warren Thomas

 

Sara Labelle- RVP, Region 3

I did not support the amendment to this motion to allow the member to have their member in good standing reinstated. OPSEU/SEFPO has made a significant commitment to Dismantling Anti-Black Racism, when we are provided evidence that there has been Anti-Black Racism and training is recommended there needs to be evidence that the training was successful and that there is an awareness of how the individual’s behaviour and actions impacted our black members. I did not feel that the training succeeded in that goal and that the member understood the impact and could not be assured that the behaviour and actions would not continue. Being committed to dismantling Anti-Black Racism will mean we have to make tough decisions at times in order to allow our black members in this union to feel that they are safe to interact in their union work.

 

A motion was made and ruled out of order

August 25, 2021- Julius Arscott, Sara Labelle, Laurie Nancekivell, Janel Perron, and Joel Usher

Chair was challenged, Chair was upheld Sara Labelle- RVP, Region 3

There was no need to even entertain this motion as the rationale provided under the Constitution did not apply to this motion. There was nothing prohibiting the member of the Provincial Women’s Committee (PWC) from assuming their board seat as the duly elected alternate while simultaneously continuing in their PWC as their was no alternate in Region 6. In order for an interpretation of the Constitution to be provided there needs to be consultation with the officers as per article 18.1.3 of the Constitution – there was no consultation with the officer’s on the interpretation which gave rise to the motion, regardless of whether I believed the motion was necessary or not, the process for providing an interpretation was not followed as per the Constitution.

 

Laurie Nancekivell-RVP, Region 1

This motion was brought forward based on the premise that the President made a Constitutional Interpretation that a person could not hold two seats from positions elected at Regionals. This may not be the exact language used at the time. I suggested that this motion was out of order because I disagreed that a Constitutional Interpretation was completed. Before an interpretation is to be finalized, the President is required to consult the Officers. This did not occur. I had asked several times and over several months to be

 

provided the Constitutional Interpretation that was claimed to have been made. Although it was promised to be sent multiple times, it never was. In January of 2022, the Board passed a motion directing the Interpretation to be provided. This still did not occur. Later, it was then admitted that an Interpretation was never made on this matter. In my view, as there was no Interpretation at the time, there was no need for this motion. This complicated that matter and proved to demonstrate that the motion was indeed out of order. I also disagreed with the Executive Board appointing people to these vacant positions and believe that if there was a vacancy, it should be dealt with via an election from the regional members involved.

 

Janel Perron-EBM, Region 3

I believe the constitution is clear and that an individual can hold 2 positions, ie be an Executive Board Member and hold the regional seat on a committee ie the PWC, making this motion unnecessary.

 

Joel Usher-EBM, Region 3
  • Article 14.6.1 of the OPSEU/SEFPO Constitution states:

. . . . “No person may hold more than one office on the Executive Board.”

  • I took no issue with Sister Maggie Wakeford continuing in the position of Region

6 Provincial Women’s Committee Representative.

  • I voted against the motion because I did not believe the motion was
  • Neither the Constitution article above nor any other Constitution article nor any policy of the Union, prohibits an Executive Board Member from sitting simultaneously as a Provincial Women’s Committee
  • A Provincial Women’s Committee Representative is not an “office of the Executive Board” and I am not aware of a Presidential interpretation, per Article

18.1.3 of the Constitution, that indicates otherwise.

 

 

Regional Billboard Media

September 22-23, 2021- Laurie Nancekivell, Sara Labelle, Janel Perron, and Joel Usher

 

Therefore be it resolved that billboard media advertising be developed and purchased to thank frontline workers on behalf of OPSEU/SEFPO;

Be it further resolved that billboards be purchased for each region beginning in September 2021, and continue to be displayed till the end of the current year as allocated funds allow;

Be it further resolved that the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board approve the funds as outlined in the attached proposal from projected surplus.

 

Laurie Nancekivell-RVP, Region 1

This motion provided for $100,000 worth of billboard media in each region to advertise for OPSEU/SEFPO and thank frontline workers on behalf of OPSEU/SEFPO. Of course, I agree that frontline workers have been the backbone of our province and should be thanked for their tireless work. I did not agree with this motion coming forward to spend surplus funds without greater transparency and discussion at the Board.  Also, I didn’t support $100,000 across the board for all regions. The cost of bulletin boards in Region 5 (as an example) or in Region 4 (Ottawa) is much greater than in many of our smaller cities and towns.

 

Sara Labelle-RVP, Region 3

The proposal for Regional media buys did not provide a fulsome costing or breakdown of locations and amounts/timeframes – it provided an equal dollar amount by Region. An equal dollar amount did not take in to account Regional and Geographical disparities – for example the cost of a billboard in downtown Toronto versus the cost of a Regional billboard in Peterborough. Regional media buys are great exposure for OPSEU/SEFPO and a wonderful tool for organizing but it required appropriate costing and adjustments to ensure that all Regions were receiving the same ability to get exposure by addressing the disparate costs in Toronto where we represent almost a third of our members versus Peterborough where the cost of a billboard is significantly lower.

 

Janel Perron-EBM, Region 3

I believe the money spent on the billboard media purchase would have have been better spent elsewhere. I also believe that the wording in the motion should have included all workers not just “front line” workers.

 

Joel Usher-EBM, Region 3
  • The proposal failed to take geographical billboard cost variances into account

and made the same funding available to each Region for the advertising

 

Child Care Design- 155 Lesmill September 22-23, 2021-Lucy Morton

 

Therefore be it resolved that OPSEU/SEFPO engage with C & Partners to begin the process of determining the feasibility of a childcare centre at 155 Lesmill R

Be it further resolved that OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board approve the funds as outlined in this proposal from Contingency Funds in order to allow C & Partner Architects to design, prepare drawings and administer the tools to determine full feasibility to determine if a childcare centre at 155 Lesmill Road is a prospect.

 

A motion was made and ruled out of order

October 27-28, 2021-Kingsley Kwok, Sara Labelle, Lucy Morton, Laurie Nancekivell, Janel Perron, Edie Strachan, Joel Usher and Jennifer Van Zetten

Chair was challenged, Chair was upheld Sara Labelle- RVP, Region 3

The Corrections bargaining team provided a fulsome proposal for an in person meeting while respecting Health and Safety protocols. The motion was ruled out of order which did not even allow the opportunity for debate or discussion. Simply ruling the motion out of order did not even allow opportunity for the board to hear concerns around the reason for ruling out of order or whether this could have been addressed via amendments to the motion. After this motion was ruled out of order the board did have an open discussion which allowed us all to hear some of the concerns from individual board members. Laurie Nancekivell and I drafted a new motion the evening before the second day and that motion was introduced and passed. Had the original motion not been ruled out of order it would not have required a committee as a whole discussion and drafting of another motion. As a board we are usually able to figure out a solution when we can have debate and discussion – collaboration works very well when we have the opportunity to discuss motions.

 

Laurie Nancekivell-RVP, Region 1

This motion was to allow the OPS Correctional Bargaining Team to meet in-person as required and that OPSEU/SEFPO would pay for the meetings. The Chair ruled this motion out of order. I did not agree with that ruling, as the motion should have been debated by the Board. From my recollection, disagreeing with this motion does not determine that it is not in order.

 

Janel Perron-EBM, Region 3

The Executive Board previously passed a motion allowing the corrections bargaining team to meet in person. I believe this motion was in order and that the chair’s ruling was incorrect.

 

Joel Usher-EBM, Region 3
  • The OPS Corrections Bargaining Team presented a case where they assured they were all vaccinated and would comply with all COVID-19 safety precautions if permitted to meet in
  • I see no reason why the motion could not be debated and, if necessary, amended.

 

Jennifer Van Zetten- EBM- Region 1

 

A motion that comes to a board needs discussion and not continue to rule out of order based on opinion

 

MHFA Basic Course Facilitator Training

December 15-16, 2021 – Tara Maszczakiewicz and Ken Maclam

 

Therefore be it resolved that the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board approve the funds as outlined in this proposal from the Contingency Fund to provide virtual training entitled Mental Health First Aid Basic Facilitator for up to 8 OPSEU/SEFPO members from each Region.

 

Tara Maszczakiewicz – RVP, Region 6

Having been an instructor in both Mental Health First Aid Basic and Mental Health First Aid for Adults who interact with youth for seven years, I am extremely supportive of providing this training to all OPSEU/SEFPO members. However, this motion to train instructors failed to provide an infrastructure for the instructors being trained: there needs to be a plan to ensure all the instructors that are trained are able to meet the annual requirement to provide three courses per year per instructor, and a supportive debriefing community.

Instructors in this program must have two years front line experience (or equivalent) in the field of mental health, and we have many members who are already trained as instructors in the course of their work who we could employ to deliver courses as we did in Region 6 when Equity leaders were trained in MHFA. Additionally, many of our members have already taken this course and when we did the Corrections Boots on the Ground tour in region 6 and asked for volunteers in the membership to attend each of the events, we had no shortage of volunteers who were trained in MHFA. For these reasons, I felt that training and maintaining an instructor group separate from those already qualified members in our communities is theoretically positive but practically problematic from an implementation and maintenance perspective.Of greater concern is that the members being trained will not have a supportive structured way to manage any vicarious trauma or compassion fatigue stemming from their work as a MHFA instructor. These are the reasons I voted against this motion.

 

Additional Local Rebate -2021

December 15-16, 2021 – Julius Arscott, Kingsley Kwok and Sara Labelle

 

Therefore be it resolved that a portion of the savings from the 2021 budget year will be allocated to a special onetime disbursement to all locals as an additional rebate cheque for 2021 to assist Locals with resources they require; and

Be it further resolved that locals that do not have their TARs up to date will have these funds held in trust.

 

Sara Labelle- RVP, Region 3

Article 17 of the Constitution sets out the roles of the officers of the union and in particular article 17.5 which speaks to the officers financial role. The pandemic changed how OPSEU/SEFPO did business and the inability to meet in person meant that there was a significant amount of financial resources that could be allocated in other areas. I wanted that more open discussion to occur at the officers prior to motions being brought to the board. That is the process we engage in for the budget purposes – we have since been doing that at the officers and I am pleased that we are having those discussions in a more fulsome way since December 2021. Since December there is much more open discussions at the officers and the executive board.

 

Executive Board Member Motion: Additional Board/Officer Meetings –

December 15-16, 2021- Eddy Almeida, Kenneth Maclam, Erin Rice- Smith and Smokey Thomas

 

Therefore be it resolved that the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board will meet on January 5 and January 6, 2022. The agenda at a minimum but not limited to will include all unfinished business and an in camera meeting that will discuss at a minimum but not limited to “staffing issues”; and

Be it further resolved that should these meeting days not be sufficient to complete the business of the union as identified by the Executive Board that further meeting dates for the Executive Board will be added on

 

January 12 and January 13, 2022 to complete the business of the union as outlined in the previous whereas; and

Be it further resolved that the Officers of the board shall be immediately canvassed by the President’s office to determine which date(s) they will meet prior to these additional Executive Board meeting dates to hold Executive Committee meetings; and

Be it further resolved that time off letters will be sent as quickly as possible to book the executive board members off of work to attend the meetings dates outlined in this motion. Executive committee letters will be sent as soon as the dates are determined; and

Be it further resolved that should quorum not be obtained for the first day of these meetings that the second day of the meetings will still be attempted.

 

 

Staff Hiring Process

December 15-16, 2021- Julius Arscott, Geoff Cain, Drew Finucane, Kingsley Kwok, Lucy Morton, Janel Perron, Edie Strachan and Joel Usher

 

Therefore be it resolved that any identified staffing needs, vacancies, or terminations will not be filled or actioned by the outgoing President; and

Be it further resolved that if an immediate staffing need or termination is identified by the outgoing President, the position or termination will be brought to the Executive Board with rationale; and

Be it further resolved that a majority vote of the Executive Board will be required to post and fill the position, or to terminate an individual; and

Be it further resolved that any interviews will be conducted by a subcommittee of the Executive Committee; and

Be it further resolved that the subcommittee will consist of three (3) Regional Vice President’s as elected by the Executive Board; and

Be it further resolved that a decision to offer any job(s) will only occur after a majority vote in favour of the same is passed by the Executive Board.

Janel Perron-EBM, Region 3

As the second highest authority in the union, when a convention is not in session, the Executive Board has the authority to direct the president’s office. Directing the president’s office in the hiring process is well within the scope of the Executive Board and as such I filed a minority report.

 

Joel Usher-EBM, Region 3
  • OPSEU/SEFPO has a unique corporate structure where the President, who is subject to election, has overall authority of the affairs and operations of the Union.
  • The circumstances in this circumstance had members of the Board faced with a situation where the President confirmed that he would not be re-offering for the position.

 

Provincial Politics

December 15-16, 2021- Eddy Almeida, Ed Arvelin, Dave Doran, Tara Langford, Kenneth Maclam, Tara Maszczakiewicz, Erin Rice-Smith, Warren Thomas

 

Therefore be it resolved that any representative of OPSEU SEFPO, using their OPSEU SEFPO title or representing OPSEU SEFPO, will not endorse or indicate any support for the officials of the Progressive Conservative government in Ontario or with candidates or representatives of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario

 

Dave Doran- EBM, Region 4

I voted against this motion because I felt the motion was in clear violation of OPSEU/SEFPO’s statement of respect. During OPSEU/SEFPO’s Anti Privatization Campaign, “We Own it,” many times OPSEU/SEFPO representatives stood beside Conservative MPPs, as they endorsed our campaign. Years later, we were then able to publicly hold them accountable. I feel this motion will limit OPSEU/SEFPO’s ability in similar campaigns in the future and restrict OPSEU from working with government, in order to get what is best for our members and the citizens of Ontario.

Tara Langford- RVP, Region 4

I voted against this motion as I have concerns that it will limit the ability of leadership to work with politicians going forward. There is an expectation of non-partisanship that needs to be maintained and we need to be able to hold politicians accountable and that will be difficult if we are not able to be seen as connecting with and communicating with them.

Tara Maszczakiewicz- RVP, Region 6

I voted against this motion as in principle I believe it violates the Statement of Respect and believe it is not enforceable as to do so would violate rights of members. Further, convention delegates have continued to uphold OPSEU/SEFPO’s position to be non-partisan, and as such to not support one specific political party. With this motion, we are potentially two motions away from basically doing that, in practice if not in policy.

 

Auditing (Forensic Audit)

December 15-16, 2021- Ed Arvelin, Dave Doran, Tara Langford, Kenneth Maclam, Tara Maszczakiewicz, Erin Rice-Smith, Warren Thomas and Maggie Wakeford

 

Therefore be it resolved that the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board approve the hiring of a Forensic Accountant to conduct a forensic audit of OPSEU/SEFPO’s finances, procedures, RFP’s, etc.; and

Be it further resolved that the Forensic Accountant be hired by the Regional Vice Presidents and report to the Regional Vice Presidents on a weekly basis with any findings, progress and recommendations to date; and Be it further resolved that the Regional Vice Presidents will update and discuss with the Executive Board at each meeting; and

Be it further resolved that this work begin January 2022; and

Be it further resolved that a forensic audit will be conducted now and every 5 (five) years from now; and

Be it further resolved that interim reports from the Forensic Accountant be provided directly to the Executive Board along with a presentation and question period by the author(s) as requested the Executive Board; and Be it further resolved that the final report will also be provided directly to the Executive Board along with a presentation and question period by the author(s).

Dave Doran- EBM, Region 4

I voted against this motion as I feel that the term “Forensic audit” insinuates there is wrong doing within OPSEU/SEFPO’s of which there is no indication or evidence of any wrong doing. The Executive Board already has an audit committee that does this work when needed

Tara Langford- RVP, Region 4

I voted against this motion as I felt it would be seen as negative to OPSEU/SEFPO as an organization. The term forensic suggests wrongdoing and I do not believe there has been any inappropriate accounting within the organizations. We have our own internal audit system as well as annual audits by an outside audit firm.

Tara Maszczakiewicz- RVP, Region 6

I voted against this motion as a forensic audit of a corporation is, from my understanding, typically employed as part of an investigative process for misuse of funds.  It was clarified in the discussion that this is not the intent, it is to look at processes in general and how to improve them, however, if that were the case, those wishing to address this could speak to the annual auditors, who do, in the course of their Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS) look at process, policies, implementation and make recommendations which are provided in the full audit report. This occurs annually and the board can compel the auditors to attend a meeting and speak directly with them. I don’t believe this audit is a good use of members’ monies as the annual audit can

provide the information being sought, and this type of expensive, large scale audit would be only appropriate if there were significant issues flagged by the annual audit or there is suspicion or knowledge of misappropriation of funds, which was not stated in the discussion of the motion at the board.

 

A motion was made and ruled out of order

December 15-16, 2021- Julius Arscott

Chair was challenged, Chair was upheld

 

Executive Board Member Legal Support

January 19-20, 2022- Eddy Almeida, Ed Arvelin, Dave Doran, Tara Langford and Erin Rice- Smith

Therefore be it resolved that when an Executive Board Member, while fulfilling their duty as an Executive Board Member, is a complainant or respondent of an OPSEU/SEFPO HDPP complaint, they are permitted to obtain external legal counsel to act as their advisor and representative during the investigation and any part of the process that they deem necessary; and

Be it further resolved that these costs shall be paid by OPSEU/SEFPO provided the fees are reasonable and customary.

 

Dave Doran-EBM, Region 4

I voted against this motion, as my understanding is that OPSEU/SEFPO’s policy does not provide for respondents or complainants to have lawyers represent them at OPSEU/SEFPO’s expense.

By passing this, the Board has conferred a privilege onto itself not available to other members. Board members should abide by our harassment policy as written. When members in the past have asked for a lawyer, the request has always been denied.

Tara Langford – EBM, Region 4

I voted against this motion as I believe the Board already has sufficient legal representation for any matter that may arise. Spending additional funds for outside legal counsel would not be an appropriate use of member’s money.

By passing this, the Board has conferred a privilege onto itself not available to other members. Board members should abide by our harassment policy as written. When members in the past have asked for a lawyer, the request has always been denied.

 

Stipend for Retirees

February 16-17, 2022-Geoff Cain, Drew Finucane, Lucy Morton, Laurie Nancekivell and Edie Strachan

Therefore be it resolved that OPSEU/SEFPO remit an honorarium/stipend to retired trustees and representatives who sit on the boards of a pension plan co-sponsored by OPSEU/SEFPO; and

Be it further resolved that the honorarium/stipend, after statutory deductions, will be consistent with the amount in the attached appendix to this motion; and

Be it further resolved that the individual trustee or representative will be required to submit monthly, via an electronic method, the meeting dates that they attended to the supervisor of pensions and benefits and to the board members of the pension liaison committee; and

Be it further resolved that the trustee/representative will be eligible to receive the honorarium/stipend for any board or committee meetings that are directly related to their role on that board as a trustee or representative as the case may be; and

Be it further resolved that the individual trustee/representative will not be eligible to receive the honorarium/stipend for any dates that were spent in travel, education, or training courses that they attended; and

Be it further resolved that OPSEU/SEFPO will remit the honorarium/stipend to the individual trustee/representative quarterly; and

Be it further resolved that the individual trustee/representative will be issued a T4 or other appropriate Canada Revenue Agency record of any remittance for monies related to the total honorarium/stipend for a calendar year; and

Be it further resolved that a retiree trustee or representative who works in retirement for an OPSEU/SEFPO employer or works directly for OPSEU/SEFPO will not be eligible for this stipend/honorarium.

Lucy Morton- EBM, Region 2

While I support the stipend I do not support that the motions only recognized retirees. We have members who are presently disadvantaged with the present policy of only being paid for scheduled hours.

Precarious workers may need to book themselves off in order to participate/attend scheduled meeting, particularly if they have multiple jobs and not all employment are they OPSEU/SEFPO members. Also seasonal workers are also disadvantaged.

Drag Show at the OPSEU/SEFPO 2022 Convention

February 16-17, 2022-Kenneth Maclam and Ken Steinbrunner

Therefore be it resolved that OPSEU/SEFPO hold an event decided by RAA if they choose to do so in the evening at Convention; and

Be it further resolved that if the Rainbow Alliance wishes to hold an event, it will be advertised at that point.

Ken Steinbrunner- EBM, Region 6

I actually voted against all events that were scheduled in the evening brought forward due to an abundance of caution.

While we did approve the sponsorship of BlueJay tickets, the board did not approve the comedy night nor the hospitality suites. My rationale was as earlier stated an abundance of caution for everyones health and safety.

I feel that health and safety is the highest threshold we should have when deciding risk for our members and the organization.

I fully support the Rainbow Alliance and I hope their show returns in 2023.

Amendments and Resolutions to Convention

February 16-17, 2022-Drew Finucane, Lucy Morton, Edie Strachan and Jennifer Van Zetten

Therefore be it resolved that an additional date be added to the March Executive Board meeting and the date be March 11, 2022.

Lucy Morton- EBM, Region 2

Provincial Committee Reports

OPSEU Policy Manual Section 4-15

The Indigenous Circle, Provincial Francophone Committee, Provincial Women’s Committee, Provincial Human Rights Committee and Provincial Young Workers Committee will prepare and submit to each Convention a report of the previous year’s activities. For ease of filing, the reports may be appended to the Report of the Executive Board and the contents may be debated by the delegates.

Indigenous Circle

During the last year, the Indigenous Circle has been working very diligently on existing and new initiatives as part of our work plan. Like for many, the last two years have been very challenging and difficult to navigate as we came to terms with this global pandemic. While we continued to work through the effects and stressors of COVID-19, as a community and peoples we finally witnessed across the nation, other people waking up to the painful and horrific truths of residential schools.

Over the course of next 6 months, starting from the late spring and into the fall, thousands of unmarked graves were found with the remains of children that never made it back home. Once more, Indigenous communities felt the trauma and agony of this genocide of our peoples.

We held our breath, as we watched hundreds become thousands as more and more unmarked graves were found across this land. While the Federal government declared September 30 as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we knew that it cannot stop there.

So on September 27, the Indigenous Circle hosted a virtual forum to commemorate the survivors and victims of residential schools and recognize the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. We continue to push as part of our June 21st Campaign the need to recognize this as a provincial statutory day by the Ontario Government. It was encouraging to see OPSEU/SEFPO take the lead in this effort and make this a recognized day for our union’s staff.

In addition, the Water Campaign Committee continues to advocate for clean and safe water for all Indigenous communities and to address the long standing water crisis in this province. On March 21, the committee held and informative and empowering virtual Water Summit in commemoration of World Water Day. Soon after the event, the committee got to work to plan their 2 day Water Summit which is underway. Water is a human right and we continue to work with OPSEU/SEFPO members and activist to bring about concreate and sustainable change to address the water crisis.

We worked together with all the Equity Chairs to focus the last Joint Leadership day on Indigenous Rights and education. During this day, Executive Board Members, MERC, CERC, Division and Sector Chairs, as well as Senior Staff had the opportunity to acknowledge the harms of the past, recognize the challenges of the present and continue their own individual journey towards reconciliation. This was a vital step towards continuing OPSEU/SEFPO’s role in reconciliation.

Lastly, we continue to focus on building on engaging the larger OPSEU/SEFPO membership through education and awareness building. This is key if we are to build on OPSEU/SEFPO’s commitment to the affirmation of Principles on Indigenous People’s Rights and to further the work on reconciliation.

While the pandemic and the move to virtual learning and interaction expanded, it was critical that Indigenous pedagogy and epistemology wasn’t compromised to further colonial and western influence. In the meantime, we worked with the Education unit to convert our Indigenous Journey material and make necessary updates and changes.

The Indigenous Circle has now started shifting gears to focus on putting together our next Indigenous Circle Conference which was postponed due to COVID-19. This conference will be planned this year and held June 2023.

Francophone Committee

Comité provincial des francophones (CPFr)

Le CPFr célèbre sa 10e année d’existence au sein du SEFPO/OPSEU en 2022. Tous les membres du comité, qui représentent chaque région, sont prêts de vous présenter leurs idées créatives de rejoindre les membres et de leur offrir des activités qui nous donnent l’occasion de vivre des moments en français.

Avec plusieurs changements et autres variantes causés par la Covid-19, les membres du comité demeurent prêts à continuer le travail du mandat du comité.

Les membres de notre exécutif sont :

Région 1 Connie Collins Région 2 (vacant) Région 3 Elsa Linton Région 4 Oliver Obagi

Région 5  Vicky Higgins-Veres Région 6 Lynne Lambert, présidente

Région 7 Linda Kuizenga, vice-présidente

Agent de liaison du conseil exécutif : Maggie Wakeford Personnel de soutien : Nathalie Rondeau OPSEU/SEFPO Conférence francophone

La prochaine conférence aura lieu en 2033. Détails à suivre!

L’emphase sera portée sur les francophones et les francophiles mais nous accueillerons aussi d’autres participants. Des casques d’écoute pour traduction simultanée seront disponibles pour ceux qui en auront besoin.

Soirées sociales 2021

Une mini-série de soirées familiales francophones furent offerts à l’automne 2021. Des artistes tels que Stef Paquette, Daniel Richer dit Laflèche ainsi que Chuck Labelle ont donnés l’occasion de se rassembler (virtuellement) en grande famille francophone pour jouir de chansons et contes. Nous remercions les membres qui ont profités de ces activités.

Éducation

Le cours Francophonie et le Mouvement Syndical est en processus d’approbation. En se rassemblant, nous sommes plus forts!

Groupe d’équité

Le comité a participé de façon active au rassemblement en janvier avec tous les autres comités et caucus pour partager, supporter et discuter avec nos homologues dans les groupes visés sur l’équité d’OPSEU/SEFPO.

Cartographie sociale

Elsa Linton de la Région 3 et Linda Kuizenga de la Région 7 font partie du comité de cartographie sociale. Nous supportons un tel projet pour mieux comprendre à quoi ressemble notre syndicat.

Buts

Le comité lance une campagne qui servira à identifier nos membres francophones et francophiles afin d’entamer des dialogues et bâtir des liens. Le comité continue le travail de son plan stratégique.

The PFC committee:

Region 1 Connie Collins

Region 2 (vacant)

Region 3 Elsa Linton

Region 4 Oliver Obaji

Region 5  Vicky Higgins-Veres

Region 6 Lynne Lambert, Chair

Region 7 Linda Kuizenga, Vice-Chair

Executive Board Liaison: Maggie Wakeford

Assigned Staff: Nathalie Rondeau OPSEU/SEFPO

Francophone Conference

The next conference will be held in 2033. Details to follow!

Priority will be given to francophones and francophiles but we will also accept others. Listening devices for translation will be available for those that need them.

Social evenings 2021

A mini-series of francophone family evenings were offered in the Fall 2021. Artists such as Stef Paquette, Daniel Richer dit Laflèche as well as Chuck Labelle gave members the opportunity to gather (virtually) in a big francophone family to enjoy songs and storytelling. We thank members who took advantage of these activities.

Education

La Francophonie and the union movement course is in the approval phase. Together, we are stronger!

Equity groups

Our committee has actively participated in the “Gathering” this January to share, discuss and support our counterparts in OPSEU/SEFPO’s equity groups.

Social mapping

Elsa Linton from Region 3 and Linda Kuizenga from Region 7 are now part of the Social Mapping Committee. The PFC supports this project so we have a better idea of who is part of our union.

Goals

The PFC launched a campaign which will serve to identify francophone and Francophile members in order to begin dialogues and build relationships. The committee is also continuing working on their strategic plan.

Provincial Human Rights Committee (PHRC)

The Provincial Human Rights Committee continues to address human rights issues affecting members, locals and Ontario as a whole. Throughout the pandemic, closures and shutdowns continued to restrict the way we provide support to members and communities alike.

The PHRC continued its Action Plan around OPSEU/SEFPO’S commitment towards migrant workers. We continued the work started during summer 2020 and provided support to migrant workers on several levels including providing hot meals to workers, purchasing and delivering PPE’s and other necessities once these workers transitioned to the farms.

The impact of the pandemic on racialized communities, highlighted numerous discriminations in work, housing, medical services, and food insecurities. The loss of jobs due to imposed lockdown, left many members in racialized communities to cope with increase food shortage.

The PHRC also focused its work in Region 5 by providing baskets of locally grown produces and imported culturally appropriate groceries to members, and marginalized communities. With the use of the OPSEU/SEFPO van, these members were able to provide door to door weekly groceries to seniors in the community.

Moving forward PHRC will continue to

  • Identify key issues affecting our communities, around human rights violations and mobilize to take action.
  • Build our database of key contacts locally, regionally and provincially to partner
  • Connect labour and community groups in developing a strategic vision and work-plan to fight the hate, islamophobia and

Equity Caucuses: Highlights

Disability Rights Caucus (DRC)

 

A request for a terminology change from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder to Post Traumatic Stress Injury. This is to ensure that there is an acknowledgement that members who live with PTSI, there is an understanding that these injuries can be both physical and cognitive slash emotional. This is at the root of PTSI and may assist

members in seeking services and support from both WSIB and medical care as they would for any other form of injury.

A resolution was passed at the Executive Board to ensure that all equity groups have their work acknowledged when statements are issued by the organization. Any statement that is quoting an equity committee/caucus or a member from that group will now acknowledge that member’s name and position.

Another resolution was passed at the Executive Board to ensure that all members are trained in mental health first aid. This would form part of their ongoing or new training as board members.

Caucus members attended a webinar re: Disability Tax Credit – T2201 Form. The plan is to educate fellow members who might be eligible for the credit. Members with disabilities and who have family members with disabilities can be impacted by the changes to this important program. The webinar gave caucus members important information to support individual members and locals who may have questions about the program. At Convention 2019, a resolution (HR 5) was passed to ensure that OPSEU/SEFPO is in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). OPSEU/SEFPO is to work in coordination with the DRC on this report with report backs on progress scheduled at future Conventions. With this change to the virtual platform for meetings, there is a significant concern about equity and accessibility for members with disability.

The Caucus also prepared a questionnaire to gather information from OPSEU/SEFPO members about COVID- 19 paid leave. Key findings from the survey include: members either do not have health benefits or are unaware of their health benefits. There also seemed to be a lack of information about the use of WSIB claims and how important these claims can help members. It is also important to note that once a worker who had been approved for WSIB receives a negative test, regardless of ongoing illness, that worker is cut off from WSIB benefits. This is has huge implications for those left with chronic ailments caused by the virus.

Lastly, caucus members attended the Disability in Work National Conference in December 2020. They connected and liaised with others who are disabled or who research the ongoing issues of disability in the workplace.

Rainbow Alliance arc-en-ciel

Like many organizations, Covid-19 has been challenging and transformative for OPSEU/SEFPO’s Rainbow Alliance arc-en-ciel (RAA). Faced with isolation during the pandemic, the RAA needed to develop new ways to reach the membership.

Losing the ability to coordinate with community at OPSEU/SEFPO and Pride events, the RAA developed a regular check-in using the Zoom software platform called QZR “Queermunity Zoom Room,” bringing OPSEU/SEFPO members together to share space as TBLGIAPQQ2S* unionists.

Performing artists have been historically marginalized in terms of economic activity and growth and found themselves suddenly cut off from their audiences and incomes. To address this economic disparity, the RAA focused on supporting artists while at the same time developing resources and opportunities for the membership.

We started with a “Healing with the Arts” online course, led by transgender comedian Alice Rose. From there, we held OPSEU/SEFPO’s first ever virtual pride, beaming live music into the homes of

OPSEU/SEFPO members throughout the summer, culminating with a stage performance and drag show held

in Region 6’s North Bay Capitol Theatre. Here we brought in both local performers and Canadian television personality and drag queen, Priyanka. These events combined reached 100s of unique viewers throughout OPSEU/SEFPO.

Internally, the RAA continued to raise awareness throughout OPSEU/SEFPO for its campaign to enter the Constitution as OPSEU/SEFPO’s 6th Equity Committee.

We are currently working on developing a guide to help inform transgender employees on their rights when they transition in the workplace, the first resource of its kind for OPSEU/SEFPO.

Lastly, having set the foundation for regional working groups, the RAA hopes to develop strong regional support for this initiative, which promises to expand our scope in ways that were never possible before.

* “TBLGIAPQQ2S” is an acronym for: Trans, bisexual, lesbian, gay, intersex, asexual, pansexual, queer, questioning, and two spirited and is a broader and more inclusive acronym than the more common “LGBT.”

 

Coalition of Racialized Workers (CoRW)

The Coalition of Racialized Workers (CoRW) started this year by presenting two (2) constitutional amendments at the annual Equity Gathering.

Equity Seats at the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board Constitutional amendment for CoRW to become a committee

Shining a spotlight on Black mental health (March 2022)

We marked Black Mental Health Day, by shining the spotlight on Black communities, and the struggles with poor health outcomes, limited access to services and inequitable treatment while trying to access healthcare.

Black History Month Forums (February 2022)

Inspirational and educational ideas flowed freely during two virtual Black History Month forums organized by OPSEU/SEFPO’s Coalition of Racialized Workers (CoRW). They were held online in support of frontline heroes.

Visit with the Office of the Jamaican High Commission in Ottawa (February 2022)

Members of the CoRW along with OPSEU/SEFPO President Warren ‘Smokey’ Thomas visited the Office of the Jamaican High Commission in Ottawa. They presented a donation cheque of $9,000 to Sharon Miller, High Commissioner. This represented a part of the $11,000 in total contributed to the effort of the High Commission to support its educational outreach.

This donation will be used to support various local groups in Jamaica. The work, which is being done locally, has been focused on actively getting education supplies and materials to under-served children throughout Jamaica. Sadly, many cities and countries continue to grapple with the effects of COVID-19. As a result, the most marginalized in this pandemic, and often the hardest hit, are families and children.

Supporting those who feeds us (January 2022)

CoRW organized meal distributions to migrant workers through the pandemic, and a special holiday distribution was also organized in Region1. The pandemic hit certain communities harder than others. Windsor/Essex was one of the hardest hit areas in Ontario and is also home to a community that has the highest population of migrant workers in the province.

The CoRW and (PHRC) partnered with both the Windsor West Indian Association and Justicia for Migrant Workers (J4MW) on this initiative. It has been an ongoing partnership between these groups that started in 2018.

Member Mental Health and First Aid (MHFA) Training (December 2021)

Since the start of COVID-19, Black, Indigenous, and racialized members have been disproportionately impacted. Government and local public health data both continue to show that many of the COVID-19 hot spots are located within Black, Indigenous, and racialized communities. Region 5’s CoRW identified a need to provide MHFA training as a way of providing support and tools to members.

Member Support Investigator & Advisor Training (MSIA)

Training was provided to over fifty OPSEU/SEFPO members who raised their hand in support to members navigating grievances, or racism in their workplaces. With identifiable and shared lived experiences in common, the Member Support Investigator/Advisor provides emotional and social support and guidance on matters of discrimination and harassment. They will act as an additional resource to members, with the support of member services as the official bargaining agent of the member/s locals.

Member Elizabeth Ha was honored with community service award (November 2021)

CoRW congratulates Elizabeth Ha on her most recent achievement as recipient of this year’s Charles E. Brooks Community Service Award. She was honored at the 2021 Virtual Labor Appreciation Windsor Essex. Elizabeth is long-time OPSEU/SEFPO activist having worked tirelessly on behalf of workers for many years. She is the current First Vice-President of OPSEU/SEFPO Local 154, Chair of OPSEU/SEFPO’s Provincial Human Rights Committee (PHRC), and Vice-Chair for People of Asian Descent on the Coalition of Racialized Workers (CoRW). Elizabeth was also recently re-elected as Vice-President of the Ontario Federation of Labour’s (OFL) Workers of Color Committee.

Honouring our friend and former member, Kola Iluyomade

The Coalition of Racialized Workers (CoRW) sends our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Kola Iluyomade. We salute and honour our brother, our departed friend and comrade in the fight against anti-Black and systemic racism. Kola’s sudden illness and sudden death on June 24, 2021 has left us all reeling in utter shock and disbelief.

Anti-Asian racism: Since the start of the pandemic, Asian communities across North America have been unfairly portrayed as carriers COVID19. Anti-Asian racism and hate crimes surged to an alarming rate in Canada after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19, a global pandemic. CoRW like OPSEU/SEFPO’s other equity committees and caucuses, worked to dispel the hateful acts against members of the Asian community.

In May 2021, CoRW hosted a virtual forum for Asian Heritage Month. It highlighted the resilience, success, and contributions of Asian communities with the goal of keeping these critical conversations ongoing.

Tribute to inspiring leaders Hangs banner at Wellesley office (March 2021)

The CoRW and OPSEU/SEFPO hosted a tribute to a few former and current leaders in the community by raising a banner dedicated to them on the wall of the OPSEU/SEFPO Wellesley office in downtown Toronto. The banner features former OPSEU/SEFPO President Fred Upshaw, the first Black person to lead a Canadian union; Denham Jolly, Jamaican Canadian businessperson and prominent philanthropist; and Ekua Walcott, community activist and former leader of the Harriett Tubman Community Organization.

OPSEU/SEFPO President Warren (Smokey) Thomas was joined by family members of the three leaders honored on the banner, including Fred Upshaw Jr., the son of the former OPSEU/SEFPO leader.

Building capacity

We continued with building capacity and welcomed new members in both Regions 3 and 7. Community Outreach

CoRW continues to support and work with various communities during the pandemic, including but not limited to Black Creek Community Farms, Windsor Carousel of Nations and Jane and Finch Community Housing Program.

Provincial Women’s Committee (PWC)

This past year the pandemic is still leaving its impact on the world and continues to highlight gender inequity in our society. Women, particularly Black, Indigenous and Racialized women, have been most impacted by the social and economic effects of the pandemic. The economic sectors, such as restaurants, retail, hotel and travel, employ mostly women and as the government shut down the province it was the women in the public sector who were impacted the most. Women have shouldered the bulk of domestic responsibilities which have led many to reduce their work hours, forgo career advancements, or quit their jobs altogether. Time out of work affects lifetime earnings and this leads to the perpetual cycle of income inequalities and gender wage gaps. In 2021, women still make 82 cents for every dollar earned by a man.

As we approached International Women’s Day on March 8, 2022, the Provincial Women’s Committee recognized the importance of ensuring the public remains aware of the continued struggle women face daily. The PWC planned a Lunch and Learn featuring Celina Caesar-Chavannes to speak with members about her memoir entitled, “Can You Hear Me Now”. Celina captured the attention of the members who walked away inspired and left with a renewed commitment to being a voice for women’s issues.

The Provincial Women’s Committee ensured members of OPSEU/SEFPO and our communities were made aware of local and provincial events pertaining to women’s and equity related issues. The Committee kept themselves apprised of the needs of our communities, regions and province. This assisted them in planning for regional, clothing and food drives, collection and distribution of menstrual products and supplies for the homeless shelters in support of the Out of the Cold initiatives across the province.

The Provincial Women’s Committee attended the “Remember Me” National Day of Remembrance on September 30, 2021, in Ottawa. We were honored and humbled to have been able to take part in the first National Day of Truth & Reconciliation.

The entire event was memorable; however, the message of hope will stick with us the most. We committed to sharing the significance of this day and the importance of wearing the orange shirt with our family, friends and in our communities.

One quote that left the biggest impact on our hearts was spoken by Dawn Setford, “We need to look at each other like the moon sees the sun; vastly different and equally important”

The Provincial Women’s Committee was a proud sponsor of the Ontario Strongest women’s competition where strong, hardworking female athletes were recognized for their athleticism.

The Provincial Women’s Committee organized their first successful, highly attended virtual conference. The theme, “I AM MORE THAN,” building on the 2019 conference, “I AM”, highlighting and connecting the various ways in which women are “more than” what is visible. The Conference focused on the strength and resilience of women, showcasing the skills, strengths, attributes, and talents not always recognized, celebrated or encouraged.

The Priority of the PWC continues to be communicating, supporting and highlighting the significance of remaining vigilant in our fight for equality.

Provincial Young Workers Committee

Provincial Young Workers Committee (PYC) – Annual Report 2021

2021 began with much more of the same with lockdowns, mandates and public health emergencies, keeping us from meeting together in person once again.

But we did not let that stop us as a movement. We still hit the streets to make our voices heard on the many issues impacting young workers, gig workers, migrant workers and the labour community at large, all while fighting against social and racial injustice brought into the spotlight throughout the pandemic.

We have mastered the platforms of Zoom, Teams, and conference calls, as well as understanding how social media works and using it to our advantage.

With all of this, we were able to continue our mandate of contacting, engaging and supporting our members throughout 2021. Additionally, we were able to participate in local outreach with the following:

Social Media Campaign: In 2020, the PYC started a social media campaign for outreach on four different platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok). We were happy to see the engagement of our members on our digital platforms, sharing our digital content all through 2020 and 2021. It was key in getting engagement and passing along information of interest or importance from our regions and also from head office, and allowed for our young worker members to contact us in real time.

Creation of Continuing Education Scholarship: As a Committee, we realize that many of our fellow union members who are in “Mature Student” classifications are not able to afford to upgrade their skills or learn a new skill that would help them to be better in their jobs, and to access more opportunities within OPSEU/SEFPO. As such, the Committee put a proposal to the Board to create a scholarship specifically for our members at large who wish to enrol and participate in continuing education courses to build upon existing skills and to learn new skills as well, at $1,000.00 per region. That proposal was passed by the Executive Board, and we thank them for seeing the need and for supporting us to ensure that our members have access to funding to further their education.

Black Food Toronto/African Food Basket: The PYC continued with its support of this local initiative by participating in the food delivery of fresh, culturally appropriate produce for families in the Greater Toronto Area. We were able to support local families with supplies that would help feed their families for weeks at a time. This work went from March until December. Additionally, we were able to participate in the Holiday Drive hosted by Black Food Toronto/African Food Basket in the Toronto Area by handing out hampers of food and having a clothing, book and toy drive as well. It was well received by the community and working to support our local community and OPSEU/SEFPO Equity Partners (Provincial Human Rights Committee and Coalition of Racialized Workers) was a privilege we were honoured to have.

Regional Check-Ins: The PYC continued to check in with our members via Regional Zoom Meetings since the beginning of the pandemic. Some of the topics discussed with our members include:

  • Working through the pandemic
  • Mental Health Supports for members
  • Financial Stability and Literacy
  • Health and Safety
  • Member Issues

PYC Conference 2021: With the assistance of our wonderful, talented OPSEU/SEFPO Staff members we were able to host our annual PYC Conference on a virtual platform, complete with visuals for our social media platforms. Our theme this year was “Young Workers in a Post Pandemic World: How to Organize, Mobilize

and Strategize Using Digital Media”. We emphasized the need to use our digital platforms as a medium to organize around issues that affect us, from Social Media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok), to using video content on YouTube and using podcasts to get the message out. We would like to thank our presenters Nour Alideeb, Munib Sajjid and Saman Tabasinejad for giving us some incredible presentations and tips on how to effectively use digital platforms to inspire change, create political action and to mobilize our young worker members around issues that are critical to the labour movement. A special thank you to our OPSEU/SEFPO Equity Partners of the Indigenous Circle of opening and closing the conference as well.

Young Worker of the Year Award: The PYC wanted to have an avenue to recognize the efforts and contributions of our young worker members within OPSEU/SEFPO, members who have been doing amazing things throughout the years. We had intended to have this award presented at our Young Workers Conference, but COVID did not want it to happen. So, we had to pivot with this initiative, and we brought a proposal to the Board that the PYC wished to create this award and have it presented every year at Convention. The motion was passed unanimously by the Executive Board. A special thank you to the Executive Board for seeing our vision and passing our proposal to allow us to celebrate our own.

Bargaining Information Session: This year, the PYC was able to host a zoom room in advance of the Broader Public Service Bargaining Conference. To fulfil our mandate of educating our young workers on the bargaining process, as well as offer tips and suggestions on how to get actively involved in the local, and in the bargaining process as well. The room had first time delegates to the Conference, as well as our Executive Board Members who provided advice on how to become involved in the bargaining process, and why it’s important for our young worker members to know how the process works. The Executive Board members shared their own experiences surrounding bargaining tactics from various employer sectors and expressed how young members are able to run for and get elected to bargaining teams. Part of the conversation also turned to identifying the signs and the key components of a tiered contract, and how to avoid the pitfalls of concessions bargaining. It was a lively discussion with a lot of question and answer sessions, and it was well received by everyone who attended.  A big thank you to all of our attendees, and a special thank you to our Executive Board Members and Division Executive Chairs that attended and shared their stories with our first time delegates.

Conventions 2021: The PYC represented OPSEU/SEFPO and its members at the Canadian Labour Council (“CLC”) Convention and the Ontario Federation of Labour (“OFL”) Convention, both on a virtual platform this year. The Committee was able to be a part of the election of a new National Young Worker Representative at the CLC and the Executive VP of Young Workers at the OFL. Additionally, we were able to participate on the Resolutions Committee and the Constitution Amendment Committee on behalf of OPSEU/SEFPO at the OFL Convention, as well as be active at the microphones on issues impacting all of equity and social justice.

Social Mapping Committee: The PYC has 2 Committee members representing our membership on OPSEU/SEFPO’s Social Mapping Committee, which ensures the issues impacting young worker members are being heard and respected, in addition to supporting the push to have equity groups more involved in the life and culture of our union. An ad-hoc committee was struck with all of the equity groups and the Executive Board liaisons to build a proposal to the Board regarding expanding the Board from 21 seats to add an additional 7 seats that will represent equity on the Executive Board level and would increase visual representation that reflects the mosaic of our membership.

Looking ahead to 2022

In 2022, we have hit the ground running.

The PYC will continue reaching our members through our social media engagement campaign. With the world opening up a little bit at a time, we will continue to use our digital platforms to share information and promote upcoming events within OPSEU/SEFPO and our labour and community partners.

The PYC will be participating in OPSEU/SEFPO’s Convention in 2022 in a more virtual format. Due to the changing mandates of the Province, OPSEU/SEFPO will be hosting its annual Convention in a hybrid format.

In order to keep pace with our green mandate, we will be hosting a Pre-Convention Zoom Room, where the theme is “Ask Me Anything”. Additionally, during Convention, we will host an interactive activity with our current committee members, that will tie into our social media platforms as well. Additionally, we are pleased to report that nominations came pouring in for our first Young Worker of the Year award, and we will be presenting the award to our first recipient at this year’s Convention.

As the reopening of our Province continues, it may be possible that we get to see each other in person once again at our annual conference. Our committee will be working to bring to our members a conference that reunites us all with each other, and celebrate the journey of the Committee being around for 16 years and counting.

Regionally, the PYC Representatives will continue their work bringing young worker issues to the forefront and providing education, resources and support to the young workers in their regions, with the support of their Executive Board members and other equity representatives.

Education is a component to keeping our young workers active within OPSEU/SEFPO. The Committee will continue working with community partners like the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario, the Ontario Federation of Labour’s Young Workers Committee, the National Union of Public and General Employees’ Young Workers Committee, and our community and union partners to offer education, mentorship, and networking opportunities that will encourage our young worker members to become more involved in OPSEU/SEFPO and also in community actions.

In the spirit of building the next generation, the Committee has presented two proposals to the Board around education and training for newly elected equity reps, as well as mentorship programs, both motions are before the Board for consideration. Additionally, the Committee is working on building a campaign to encourage local leaders to mentor young workers within their locals, and to encourage them to join the executive.

The Committee would like to express its thanks to the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board, the Equity Unit, the Member Education Unit, Local Services Division and the OPSEU/SEFPO Membership for all of their continued encouragement and support these past two years. We look forward to continuing to build a strong working relationship for 2022.