OPSEU/SEFPO Central Employee Relation Committee [CERC]

OPS workers force Ontario government to recognize National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

July 14, 2023

After Canada’s Governor General proclaimed September 30 a federal holiday in honour of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in 2021, the Ontario Government refused to recognize the holiday for Ontario Public Service (OPS) employees in 2022. It was a shameful move on the part of the Ford government, given that the time for...

OPS Unified Onsite Attendance Attestation process is unnecessary and demoralizing

July 7, 2023

Six unions that represent employees in the Ontario Public Service, including OPSEU/SEFPO, have called out the employer on their Onsite Attendance Attestation procedure for members who have work-from-home provisions in their collective agreements. Despite the fact that every employee already tracks their working time in the employer’s internal time tracking system, the employer has added...

OPSEU/SEFPO commends OPS on flexibility re: OPS members’ return to workplace

March 22, 2022

OPSEU/SEFPO leaders are commending the heads of the Ontario Public Service (OPS) for their prompt action and flexibility over concerns from unionized staff about return to workplace plans. The OPS announced changes to the plan last week, which clarified health and safety precautions. OPSEU/SEFPO President Warren (Smokey) Thomas expressed his appreciation to the Head of...

Statement on OPS members’ return to workplace

March 2, 2022

We understand that Ontario Public Service (OPS) employees will begin returning to work in person this week on a voluntary basis, and that they will be expected to be in their workplaces at least three days a week starting April 4. We also understand that this hybrid arrangement is temporary, and that OPSEU/SEFPO and other...

Province’s apology for discrimination in Ontario Public Service an important first step

June 7, 2021

Toronto – OPSEU/SEFPO President Warren (Smokey) Thomas commends the provincial government for its apology to Black, Indigenous and racialized communities and for acknowledging that systemic racism, discrimination and employment barriers continue for people of colour, LGBTQ+ employees and employees with disabilities, but says there’s much more work to be done. “The province’s apology is an...

Don’t dump ODSP: Ontario needs disability supports

March 11, 2021

The Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) is a provincial government program that provides social assistance to people with disabilities. OPSEU/SEFPO members who work for ODSP provide compassionate and essential support to their clients, and are specially trained to understand and provide the services that people with disabilities need. The Ford government wants to change ODSP...

Joint Leadership Day. Colourful laces tied together

Joint Leadership Day 2020: Moving from a social map to a road map for action

September 24, 2020

OPSEU’s 2019-20 Social Mapping Project (SMP) was the hot topic of the day at the 19th annual Joint Leadership Day event, held on September 22nd. Hosted by the OPSEU’s Equity Chairs and MC’ed by the chair of the Indigenous Circle, Krista Maracle, the virtual event unveiled the results and recommendations from the union’s second SMP...

OPSEU protects OPS contract and seasonal members’ jobs

May 2, 2020

OPSEU and the Ontario government have signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) that protects the jobs and salaries of contract and seasonal workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. It also allows them to be redeployed to other public sector positions. The MOA is retroactive to April 6, 2020, and continues until May 31, with the possibility...

OPSEU President Warren Smokey Thomas speaking at a podium

OPSEU calls for a meeting to deal with the threat COVID-19 poses to Corrections

March 21, 2020

TORONTO – OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas wants an immediate meeting with provincial government officials and the Chief Medical Officer of Health to address the growing crisis that COVID-19 poses to corrections workers and inmates. The pandemic is threatening provincial correctional facilities, and Thomas says it is time for Corrections Ministry officials to act....

OPSEU is saving jobs in the OPS

November 29, 2019

TORONTO — OPSEU has negotiated improvements to the job security rights in both the Unified and Corrections Collective Agreements. An agreement with the government has been reached that will enhance the choices members would have if their job is eliminated. The improvements were worked out by the Central Employee Relations Committee (CERC) and the Corrections...

New laws give health and safety activists more power to protect themselves and the public

January 18, 2018

On January 1, two new laws took effect in Ontario, ushering in important changes for all workers. The two laws are Bill 148, “A Plan for Fair Workplaces and Better Jobs”, and Bill 177 “The Stronger Fairer Ontario Act” (also known as the Elliot Lake Bill). If you’re on a joint health and safety committee...

inSolidarity Committee, 2024-2026

The editorial committee of inSolidarity is elected every other year at the biennial Editors’ Weekend event, which is open to all OPSEU/SEFPO members in good standing to attend.

inSolidarity Committee members:

Craig Hadley, L 5109
Michael Hamilton, L 376
Wendy Lee, L 575
Alexandrea Seggewiss, L 715
Lorinda Seward, L 351, editor

Alternates:

Christopher Arndt L 241 (1)
Angela Speers, L 684 (2)
Duc Vu, L 230 (3)
Michele Morrison, L 222 (4)
Lorrie Scuffell, L 4100 (5)

Ex-officio:

Vikki Poirier – Executive Board Liaison
Andy Pedersen – OPSEU/SEFPO Communications Staff Liaison

How to submit an article to inSolidarity

The editorial committee of inSolidarity welcomes contributions from OPSEU/SEFPO members and retirees in good standing. Please read the Editorial Policy below for content guidelines.

To contribute an article to an upcoming issue of inSolidarity, please send it by email to [email protected]. Your submission should include your full name and local number.

Editorial Policy

The content and editing of this newsletter are determined by the committee. We want members to feel ownership of inSolidarity and view it as independent of any particular segment of the union. Content comes from our base of activists, staff and other labour sources.

Where an article has a byline, the views are those of the author and not necessarily the views of OPSEU/SEFPO. While we welcome your contributions, we ask that they be constructive. All articles should be signed and include your local number, and should contribute positively to OPSEU/SEFPO’s mission.

We encourage thoughtful discussion of all related issues and reserve the right to edit for libel, length and clarity, and to reply to those that seem to reflect a misunderstanding of the union and its policies.