Executive Board
EB12
Submitted by the Executive Board
Whereas the OPSEU/SEFPO Policy Section 17.1 “Leaves of Absence for Local Union Business” ; and
Whereas OPSEU/SEFPO encourages local autonomy; and
Whereas the Local representatives of OPSEU/SEFPO are charged with upholding the Constitution, which includes the “Aims and Purposes”; and
Whereas the responsibilities of Local representatives are drastically increased in proportion to the number of members in a Local; and
Whereas OPSEU/SEFPO continues to increase its membership and size of locals; and
Whereas OPSEU/SEFPO has 3 single locals with more than 1,300 members and 3 composite locals with more than 1,500 members; and
Whereas many locals under the 650/750 fulltime book off also require more time off to assist their members; and
Whereas the Union works to support all Locals and their leadership, regardless of size;
Therefore be it resolved that all relevant portions of Section 17.1 of the OPSEU/SEFPO Policy Manual be amended to reflect language that provides for a second member to be granted “Local Union Leave”, in the same manner as currently defined in 17.1, where the membership of a local has 1,500 or more signed members for a single local and 1,300 members for a composite local; and
Be it further resolved that Local time off (80/20) will be increased as follows:
“A maximum of $40 per member in good standing per year. OPSEU/SEFPO will contribute $32 per member per year and the Local will contribute $8 per member per year.”; and
Be it further resolved that the funding come from the contingency fund.
Executive Board
EB13
Submitted by the Executive Board
Whereas OPSEU/SEFPO has a long term commitment to dismantling anti-Black racism, anti-Indigenous racism, and all forms of racism in all of its systems and structures; and
Whereas the creation of equity seats on the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board will address the lack of representation that Black, racialized and Indigenous members have identified as missing from their union leadership; and
Whereas OPSEU/SEFPO’s Social Mapping Project has identified gaps and barriers by providing the necessary information to ensure services meet the needs of the membership; and
Whereas significant changes to the OPSEU/SEFPO Constitution, such as equity seats on the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board, would be subject to provisions governed under the Corporations Act and the Not-for-Profit Corporations Act; and
Whereas an ad hoc committee was created to carry out this work and propose changes, is made up of members from the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board and members from the SMP Implementation Task Force; and
Whereas this ad hoc committee continues proceed with this consultative and investigative work in order to meet the requirements as stipulated by the aforementioned pieces of legislation;
Therefore be it resolved that for continuity purposes, the existing members of the ad hoc committee be allowed to continue with this consultative and investigative work on proposed changes of equity seats on the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board which would require changes to the OPSEU/SEFPO Constitution; and
Be it further resolved that this work from the ad hoc committee be done in conjunction with assistance from representatives from OPSEU/SEFPO’s Legal Services Division, the Equity Unit and a member from the OPSEU/SEFPO Constitutions Committee; and
Be it further resolved that the proposed changes to the OPSEU/SEFPO Constitution for equity seats on the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board be completed no later than December 2022.
World Issues
I1
SUBMITTED BY LOCAL 684; also submitted by Local 669
Whereas we acknowledge that there are many Russians and Russian Canadians who are against Putin’s regime; and
Whereas Ukraine was attacked and invaded by Russia on February 24, 2022; and
Whereas numerous countries across the world have denounced the horrific atrocities of the Russian invaders in Ukraine and have called for a war crime trial; and
Whereas multiple countries have expelled dozens of Russian “intelligence officers” registered as diplomats in Russian embassies and consulates; and
Whereas Canada is home to the Embassy of Russia in Ottawa and the Consulates General of the Russian Federation in Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa; and
Whereas expelling Russian diplomats is one of the strongest statements Canada can make to condemn the actions of the Putin regime;
Therefore be it resolved that OPSEU/SEFPO encourage and support labour affiliates OFL, CLC, NUPGE and other labour-friendly organizations to demand that the Prime Minister expel all Russian diplomats currently working at their Embassy/Consulates in Canada.