The OPSEU Social Justice Fund was set up to support international solidarity projects. As public sector workers we want to strengthen the global movement against privatization and exploitation of workers and build linkages with workers and vulnerable communities in developing countries. We have supported community and union projects in Malawi, South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Colombia and Central America, among others.

The OPSEU Live and Let Live Fund was set up to raise funds from our locals and other groups to assist in the combatting of HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa and Ontario.  This Fund has now received charitable status and it will allow us to raise even more funds for the two organizations who are our donees – the Stephen Lewis Foundation and the Ontario AIDS Network. For more information, call Brenda Wall at 1 800 268 7376, extension 8268 or Cindy Forsyth at extension 8788.

The following directors were elected after the 2011 convention: President Smokey Thomas, Executive Board members Jen Giroux (Region 6), Mary Cory(Region 7)and Jeff Arbus (Region 6), Provincial Human Rights Committee appointee Eric Davis (Local 497), Provincial Women"s Committee appointee Heather Hoddinott(Local 629) and Provincial Youth Committee appointee Kaylan Bartholomew (Local 112). The two newly elected Chairs are as follows: Kaylan Bartholomew, Chair of the Live and Let Live Fund and Eric Davis, Chair of the Social Justice Fund.

Board members from left to right: Back row: Eric Davis, Mary Cory, Kaylan Bartholomew, Cindy Forsyth (staff). Front row: Brenda Wall (staff) Jeff Arbus, Jen Giroux, Peggy Maybury (Executive Assistant standing in for Smokey Thomas).
 

The new Chairs pose in front of Nelson Mandela, former President of South Africa and first recipient of OPSEU’s Stanley Knowles Humanitarian Award.

The new Solidarity Fund Chairs pose in front of Stephen Lewis.   The Stephen Lewis Foundation is the major recipient of funds raised for the OPSEU Live and Let Live Fund.