See the new video about the OPSEU Social Mapping Project

April 25, 2013 Each and every one of you is part of this change. We must take stock of our current processes, resources and structures and re-align them to have a broad vision of inclusion. The important work we are doing today lays the foundation for OPSEU"s long-term strength and growth. Together we can ensure solidarity with each other no matter where we are coming from, no matter our points of view. It"s just the right thing to do." Warren (Smokey) Thomas.

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The OPSEU Social Mapping Video is now available

The social mapping video introduced at Convention 2012 presents the stories of eight OPSEU human rights advocates. The video is a call to action for OPSEU members, inspiring them to come forward as defenders of equity issues in their lives, their communities and their union.

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The Phase III Report is in!

April 2012 The final report from phase III of the Social Mapping Project is complete. The report reflects the review of three selected membership systems: Communications, Bargaining and Organizing. Containing a list of 32 recommendations, the report is designed to help OPSEU build a stronger union that understands and responds to the membership in its full diversity.

Here are some of the key findings:

Communications:

Encourage inclusive content of all OPSEU communications:

• Develop an equity-related communications policy;
• Expand the inclusive content of OPSEU publications; and
• Encourage a diversity of input in local newspapers.

Use the full diversity of media available to increase member knowledge of OPSEU:

• Establish guidelines for use of media such as e-mail and print material;
• Develop educational material for members and locals to optimize representation of equity concerns in all union communications.

Increase public awareness and understanding:

• Explore ways in which new and current members can gain an appreciation of OPSEU history;
• Improve OPSEU’s image and the image of unions in general

Bargaining:

Fully mobilize all activists in bargaining:

• Develop innovative strategies for supporting workers in equity groups and contingent workers to participate in the bargaining process and in bargaining teams;
• Identify a greater number of priority demands that are responsive to the needs of equity groups;
• Develop tools to assist bargaining teams in responding to the needs of diverse members.

Organizing:

Create opportunities for OPSEU to effectively organize a wider diversity of members:

• Encourage the development of new ideas for organizing a wider diversity of members and emerging worker groups;
• Develop diversity competency for organizers and structures that support OPSEU’s practice of matching organizers to target workplaces.

At Convention 2012, the social mapping project presented a report on the results of Phase III as well as implementation of the recommendations from Phase II.  The social mapping video was also introduced as part of the social mapping report to Convention.

The report from Phase III has been sent to the Executive Board.  The Board has referred implementation of the recommendations to the Implementation Task Force. Reports on the results of any planning and implementation will be published as soon as that information becomes available.  

Check the website for further updates and information.

The Social Mapping Implementation Task Force

The Social Mapping Implementation Task Force has begun its plans for implementation of the social mapping Phase II recommendations. Phase II of the project examined the education and election membership systems at OPSEU.

Background

Passed by the Executive Board in June 2011, the Implementation Task Force was created to develop detailed and well-supported plans for implementation of the recommendations emerging from the review of OPSEU membership systems.

The main focus of the Task Force was to determine the following:

• recommendations that should be given priority;
• the actions required for implementation that will ensure that the changes are durable and permanent;
• proposed timelines for implementation;
• development of key motions, resolutions or other documents to action required changes;
• a communication plan to ensure that measures are understood, accepted and acted upon;
• a comprehensive implementation plan.

Implementation Plans to Date

Since September 2011, the Implementation Task Force has created an overall framework for implementation and has proposed general timelines for implementation. As a part of this work, the Task Force also identified recommendations that could be implemented in the short-term. More than one third (19 of the 47) of the Phase II recommendations were identified for short-term implementation.  Of those many will be implemented by Convention 2012. The task force has also created several key motions, resolutions, and recommendations in consultation with Equity Committees and Caucuses and internal OPSEU departments to address the short-term implementation goals. Look for a final report of the short-term implementation plan in April, 2012.

For more information on the Implementation Task Force Committee Members

Social Mapping Phase III Recommendations

The Phase III report of selected membership systems is almost complete. Phase III of the social mapping project focused on review of three membership systems—communications, bargaining and organizing. Information about the key findings and recommendations from the report will be available in April 2012.

Phase II Report Complete

The final report from phase II of the Social Mapping Project is complete. Containing a list of 45 recommendations, the report is designed to help OPSEU build a stronger union that understands and responds to the membership in its full diversity.

Here are some of the key findings:

• Good equity policies on the books but few mechanisms in place to monitor enforcement.
• A lack of equity structures at the local level and in the regions reduces the ability to attract new members into union activism.
• Little focus on workplace-based equity issues.
• Difficult for members to participate in education and meetings where long distances were involved.
• OPSEU website is difficult to navigate; important messaging opportunities are lost.
• Activism in the locals is rewarded yet equity activism is not.
• Leadership does not reflect the general membership, particularly youth, racialized members and women.

Click here for a copy of the Executive Summary.

The Membership Committee will be making a timed presentation at Convention 2011 on the results of Phase II.  

The “Report on Selected Membership Systems” has been sent to the Executive Board.  The Board will review the recommendations and create an implementation plan.  Reports on the results of any planning and implementation will be published as soon as that information becomes available.   

Phase One, a demographic survey of our membership, was completed in early 2010. Click here for the Executive summary of the Membership Survey Report.

Check the website for further updates and information.