From OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas, introducing “Vote Better” OPSEU’s platform for the upcoming provincial election.

Welcome to this sneak peak of Vote Better, OPSEU’s platform for the upcoming provincial election.

OPSEU isn’t running for office … so why do we have a platform?

The answer is simple. As a union of front-line workers, we are experts on public services.

We’ve seen without own eyes the incredible good that strong public services can do: the lives saved, the children protected, the economies built, and the communities strengthened.

And we’ve also seen with our own eyes the incredible damage that is done when our public services are starved, cut, and privatized.

We know what works, and we know what doesn’t work. And the upcoming election is a golden opportunity for us to share our insights with voters and candidates.

That’s what our platform is all about: showing Ontario that if we vote better, we’ll do better.

We’ll be launching the full platform on May 8 with an exciting and interactive electronic town hall debate.

Read more…

June 7 Ontario Provincial Election

OPSEU Members, Public Services & the Ontario Election

With Ontario’s next provincial election just five weeks away, one thing is clear: OPSEU members have A LOT at stake on Election Day. And so does every worker and every community in Ontario, and the millions of people who depend on the public services that OPSEU members provide.

The Parties at a Glance

Doug Ford and the Tories are gearing up to take us back to the Harris years – with more tax cuts for corporations and the rich, cuts to public services and thousands of public sector workers who deliver them, and a plan to roll back the gains millions of Ontario workers have won through Bill 148 — including equal pay provisions, stronger employment standards, and the $15 minimum wage.

Kathleen Wynne and the Liberals are promising to spend $ billions, but they remain committed to their disastrous policy of dismantling the public sector through privatization. The result? Higher costs, increased user fees, reduced access and lower quality public services; the transfer of $ billions in public funds to big corporations and rich investors; and the elimination of thousands of good jobs.

Meanwhile Andrea Horwath and the New Democrats are promising to stop privatization, reverse the sell-off of Hydro One, invest in public services and expand dental care and pharmcare for everyone. And they are calling for a shift towards fair taxation through higher taxes for big corporations and wealthy individuals.

OPSEU Members’ Votes Matter!

With so much on the line, OPSEU is encouraging EVERY eligible member to get out and vote – and to support candidates that will stand up for good jobs, workers’ rights and quality public services. With 150,000 members across the province – or more than 1,000 members per riding – a strong turnout by OPSEU voters can have a major impact in deciding who the next government is. That’s where we all come in…

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Mobilizing for Public Services:

Three Ways YOU and YOUR LOCAL Can Help

1) Help Us Get the Word Out in Your Local

To reach every member, we need you and your local leadership to get the word out in your locals.

That is why OPSEU Region 5 is asking every local to hold a special pre-election GMM or information meeting between now and Election Day on June 7 and to invite one of our OPSEU election mobilizers, a We Own It mobilizer and/or one of your Region 5 EBMs. The goal? To kick-start a discussion with your members about the issues and what we have at stake as public sector workers – and to focus on how we can work together to get the word out to every OPSEU member, and how we have a real impact, during the election campaign and on E-Day.

To arrange for a speaker to come to your local, just send an email to your Region 5 EBMs at: opseuregion5ebms@gmail.com.

2) Volunteer with the OPSEU R5 Phone Bank & Outreach Activities

With so much on the line, Region 5 is once again organizing a special OPSEU phone bank to reach out to members in key ridings. The goal? To talk about the issues, what we have at stake as public sector workers, and why we need to elect as many progressive candidates as possible.

The phone bank will be up and running every weekday evening from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m at OPSEU’s offices at 31 Wellesley St East, starting on Thursday, May 10 through to Election Day. We’ll also be making calls on Saturdays and Sundays from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Phone bank volunteers are the key – If you can help staff the phone bank – or want to organize a group from your local to come as a team – please send an email to your Region 5 EBMs at: opseuregion5ebms@gmail.com. Just give us your name, local number, personal email address and cell/phone number and the dates and times you can help and one of our mobilizers will get back to you.

More comfortable with face-to-face outreach? Great! As the campaign ramps up we will also be looking for volunteers to help with community canvasses and other outreach. Again, just email us at: opseuregion5ebms@gmail.com.

3) Focusing on Key Ridings

OPSEU is committed to electing as many progressive candidates as possible who will stand up for workers’ rights, good jobs and quality public services. So OPSEU Region 5 is encouraging members to consider supporting – and voting for – NDP candidates in these key ridings in Region 5.

• Toronto Danforth — Peter Tabuns
• Parkdale High-Park — Bhutila Karpoche
• Scarborough – Rouge Park — Felicia Samuel
• Scarborough Southwest – Dolly Begum
• Beaches – East York — Rima Berns-McGown
• University – Rosedale — Jessica Bell
• Davenport — Marit Stiles
• York – South Weston — Faisal Hassan
• Humber River — Black Creek
• Brampton East — Guaratan Singh
• Brampton Centre — Sara Singh

Boots On the Ground: We are encouraging members and activists to consider volunteering and/or donating to these campaigns – and to help us to contact members that live in these ridings to discuss the issues and why their votes are so important.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Changes to Ontario’s Elections Act mean that OPSEU locals and the central union cannot make any financial or in-kind donations to any provincial political party or candidate. There are also strict limits on Unions’ ability to engage in 3rd party advertising or to make public endorsements of any candidate, party or their platforms. However, we have every right to communicate with our members about the issues and how to make our votes count on E-Day.

Plug Yourself In

Join Us at These Region 5 Election Kick-Off Events…

1) Region 5 Election Leaders Debate Party

Monday May 7 marks the first televised Party Leaders Debate. It’s our first chance to see the three party leaders mix it up, put their platforms to the test, and debate the issues that matter to OPSEU members and our communities.

So Region 5 and our Election and We Own It Mobilizing Teams are inviting YOU to join us for some finger food, some beverages (beer, wine & alcohol free) and some “active listening” as we cheer, boo, and swap views on the leaders’ performances.

When:   Monday, May 7, 6 to 8 pm.
Where:  OPSEU Membership Centre, 31 Wellesley St. East (at Wellesley Subway)
What:    Televised Debate on the Big Screen, Cash Bar, Finger Food

Join, Like & Share the Event on Facebook!

2) I’m Voting! Region 5 Presidents & Activists Meeting:
Building the Vote for Public Services, Good Jobs & Strong Communities

Join OPSEU leaders & activists from across Region 5 to discuss the key issues in the June 7 Ontario election, the fight to stop privatization and defend quality public services, good jobs, workers’ rights and strong communities – and how OPSEU members can make a difference together on Election Day!

When:   Wednesday, May 9, 6 to 8 pm.
Where:  OPSEU Membership Centre, 31 Wellesley St. East
(at Wellesley Subway)
Guest Speakers:
> Pam Frache – Workers’ Action Centre & $15 & Fairness Campaign
> Susan McMurray – Toronto & York Region Labour Council

Join, Like & Share the Event on Facebook!

Planning to join us? Great! Please RSVP to opseuregion5ebms@gmail.com

Have YOUR Say

Connect Up with OPSEU’s Talk ON Interactive Election Town Hall

Join this province-wide interactive event featuring OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas and guest panelists Rosario Marchese and Adrienne Batra, TalkON will open up discussion on the issues that really matter for the people of Ontario. Listen and participate by phone. Watch and participate on the web and through social media. Follow the conversation with the hashtag #VoteBetter.

When:   Tuesday, May 8, 7 – 8:30 pm
For More Info: http://www.talkontario.ca
Register Now:

• Click here to register for the English online video stream.
• Click here to register for the French online video stream.

Got questions? Want to volunteer or get more involved?

Just send an email to opseuregion5ebms@gmail.com or contact one of your Region 5 Executive Board Members

• Myles Magner (RVP): mylesmagner@gmail.com
• Julius Arscott (EBM): arscottj@hotmail.com
• Kingsley Kwok (EBM elect):  kingsley.kwok.opseu@gmail.com

Not on this list? Send an email to opseuregion5ebms@gmail.com or click below to subscribe.

A message from Hugh O’Reilly, President and CEO of OPTrust:

It is with great pleasure that I announce the launch of our new defined benefit (DB) plan offering, OPTrust Select, which will offer a secure and reliable retirement solution at a moderate cost for both employers and employees.

Employers can only participate in one schedule of benefits and employees cannot participate in both schedules of benefits at the same time. In addition, employers and employees participating in the existing schedule of benefits of OPTrust are not eligible to join OPTrust Select.

OPTrust Select will provide members with a predictable retirement income and includes the following features:

• OPTrust Select members and employers both contribute to the Plan;
• An annual pension accrual rate of 0.6 of earnings;
• Earnings upgrades and cost of living increases, dependent on the Plan’s funded status and annual Board approval.

OPTrust Select will be targeted to Ontario workplaces in the broader public sector, charitable and not-for-profit groups that do not have workplace DB pension plans but may have a defined contribution (DC) plan, a group RRSP, or no retirement savings arrangement at all.

I want to thank OPSEU, the Ontario government and everyone at OPTrust who made this vision a reality. As the first new jointly sponsored DB product offering for modest income earners in a generation, OPTrust Select speaks to our desire to see more Ontarians benefit from a secure, reliable, stream of income in retirement.

Pension citizenship and greater access to DB plans that provide a steady stream of secure, reliable retirement income for all Ontarians is a top priority and I am proud and confident that OPTrust Select will offer retirement security to more Ontarians. The OPSEU Pension Plan and its members will also benefit from OPTrust Select by creating greater sustainability over the long term through the allocation of risk and operational costs over a broader membership base.

For more information about OPTrust Select, I invite you to visit optrustselect.com. As always, I welcome your thoughts and feedback as we launch this new pension offering.

Yours very truly,

Hugh O’Reilly
President and CEO
OPTrust

More than 1,500 of you weighed in on the potential candidate questions—many of you suggested questions we hadn’t even thought of.

We’ll now go through all of your valuable feedback. And soon, we’ll publish our finished We Own It candidates survey that we can all start encouraging our candidates to fill out.

Together, we’ll figure out where every candidate in every riding stands on the issues of public services and privatization.

Invite your friends, family, and co-workers to join us!

United we bargain, divided we beg! Our current collective agreement runs from April 1, 2019, to March 31, 2022. Stay informed! Read your collective bargaining agreement. It is yours: own it, and mobilize around it.

Join ONA and OPSEU for a special International Women’s Day event featuring a conversation between Dr. Catherine Zahn and President and CEO of Plan International Canada, Caroline Riseboro.

The pair will engage in an intimate discussion about empowering women in the context of “Press for Progress” – this year’s theme for International Women’s Day.

WHERE: Training Room A, Queen Street Community Centre
WHEN:  Thursday, March 8, 2018
TIME: 10:00 a.m.

The OPSEU Indigenous Circle invites you to submit your application for the 2018 Indigenous Conference!  We welcome all members who desire to bear witness to the essential role of culture in the survival and thriving of Indigenous communities.

The Conference theme is “Cultural Reclamation and Restoration: Weaving Culture Back Into Our Blanket.”  The goal is to inspire and equip OPSEU members to partner and work with Indigenous communities during this time of reconciliation.  The Conference is being planned with elders and community members of Wikwemikong Unceded First Nation.  Participants will be equipped with the necessary tools and knowledge to effectively network with Indigenous members within and beyond OPSEU on various projects and campaigns.  We will be joined by Maya K’iche’ guests who will lead a workshop on reviving cultural midwifing practices in Guatemala.

Event participants will be selected by the Indigenous Circle with assistance from the Equity Unit.  The selection process seeks to achieve a diverse group of attendees, representative of Indigenous and other equity groups within our membership. Confirmation will be issued to the selected participants the first week of May.  Expenses will be reimbursed as per OPSEU policy.

Do not miss this opportunity to network, learn, share experiences and have some fun.  Please submit your completed application by e-mail to indigenousconference@opseu.org or fax to the Equity Unit no later than 5 pm, April 6, 2018.  Please note that we will be applying the criteria as set out on pages 4 and 5 of this application for selection.  Incomplete applications will not be considered.

In solidarity,

OPSEU Indigenous Circle

Authorized for distribution by:

Nancy Pridham

Le Cercle des Autochtones du SEFPO vous invite à soumettre votre demande de participation à la Conférence des Autochtones du SEFPO 2018.  Nous lançons une invitation à tous les membres qui désirent témoigner du rôle essentiel de la culture pour la survie et l’épanouissement des communautés autochtones.

Le thème de la conférence est « Réappropriation et restauration de notre culture : Retissons notre culture dans notre courtepointe ».  Notre objectif est d’inspirer les membres du SEFPO et de leur procurer les outils pour s’associer et travailler avec les communautés autochtones durant cette période de réconciliation.  La conférence se tiendra en compagnie d’aînés et de membres de la communauté de la Première Nation non cédée de Wikwemikong.  Les participants recevront les outils et le savoir nécessaires pour communiquer efficacement avec les membres autochtones au sein du SEFPO et au-delà dans le cadre de divers projets et campagnes.  Des membres du peuple Maya K’iche’ se joindront à nous pour animer un atelier sur la relance des pratiques culturelles des sages-femmes au Guatemala.

Les participants seront sélectionnés par le Cercle des Autochtones en collaboration avec l’Unité de l’équité.  Dans le cadre du processus de sélection, nous tenterons de former un groupe de participants diversifié, représentatif des Autochtones et d’autres groupes visés par l’équité au sein de l’effectif. Nous enverrons une confirmation aux participants sélectionnés durant la première semaine de mai.  Les dépenses seront remboursées conformément à la politique du SEFPO.

Ne manquez pas cette occasion de réseauter, d’apprendre, de partager vos expériences et de vous amuser.  Veuillez soumettre votre demande dûment remplie à l’Unité de l’équité par courriel à : indigenousconference@opseu.org ou par télécopieur au plus tard à 17 h, le 6 avril 2018.  Veuillez noter que nous appliquerons les critères stipulés aux pages 4 et 5 de cette demande.  Toute demande incomplète sera refusée.

En toute solidarité,

Le Cercle des Autochtones du SEFPO

Distribution autorisée par :

Nancy Pridham

December 2017 marked OPSEU Local 500’s 3rd annual holiday food drive in support of the Daily Bread Food Bank. With the generous contributions of all staff throughout the hospital we were able to raise $1000 and over 700 lbs of food.

I would like to thank all those that helped spread the word amongst their colleagues and those who organized collections within their departments;  a special thanks to Susan Eckerle Curwood (for being my point-person at the other site and receiving and managing all of the RS and CS donations) and Lisa McCaul-Smith, my team mate in the out patient pharmacy, who tirelessly packed up donations into boxes (and checked all the expiry dates while she was at it!)

Once again you have shown that CAMH is full of generosity, compassion and charity.

Thank you all for your contributions.

Shauna Davies and the “Frantic Food” team

WHO:  OPSEU Local 500

WHAT:  General Membership Meeting

WHEN:  Tuesday, January 30th, 2018, 5:30pm to 8:00pm

WHERE:  Queen Street Site,

Staff Cafeteria, Training Room A

WHY:  See Agenda Below

Agenda

1. OPSEU Convention , April 19 – 21, 2018
   Elections of  Delegates and Alternates
2. Bill 48
3. General Discussion – Q & A
4. Door Prizes
5. A light dinner catered by the Out of This WorldCafé will be served

QUORUM IS NECESSARY TO ENSURE A SUCCESSFUL MEETING.

*If quorum, is not met, the Local cannot run elections and will not be able to send any alternates or delegates to OPSEU’s Annual Convention.*