inSolidarity
InSolidarity is the committee that produces social and web posts for members by members. The content comes from our base of activists, staff, and other labour sources. inSolidarity is edited and produced by the elected members of the inSolidarity Committee. We welcome constructive submissions to the newsletter from all OPSEU/SEFPO members.
Hospital Professionals unite to demand real solutions for the health care crisis
By Wendy Lee, Local 575, inSolidarity Committee Just outside their bargaining table in downtown Toronto on May 28, OPSEU/SEFPO Hospital Professionals were joined by members
The high costs of not grieving
Seven things union members lose when they don’t file a grievance By Wendy Lee, Local 575, inSolidarity Committee In every unionized workplace, the collective agreement
A New Chapter in Equity Engagement: Region 4 Launches First-Ever “Afternoon with Equity”
By Lorinda Seward, Local 351, Editor inSolidarity On May 23, 2025, approximately 50 OPSEU/SEFPO members from Region 4 gathered in Ottawa to take part in
For the 60,000 OPSEU/SEFPO members who can’t strike, a new fund to invest in strong and effective bargaining
By Wendy Lee, Local 575, inSolidarity Committee If you were at Convention 2025, you heard a lot of debate about OPSEU/SEFPO’s strike fund and strike
From moments to movements: LaToia Jones ignites a call for deep, lasting organizing
by Alexandrea Seggewiss, Local 715, inSolidarity Committee With “Diva” by Beyoncé pulsating throughout the convention hall, an enigmatic LaToia Jones danced her way to the
Media there as members take to the streets to defend public services
By Lorinda Seward, Local 351, and Craig Hadley, Local 5109, inSolidarity On Day 3 of OPSEU/SEFPO’s Convention 2025, the energy inside the Metro Toronto Convention
This Is What Solidarity Looks Like: Celebrating OPSEU/SEFPO’s Brightest Stars
by Alexandrea Seggewiss, Local 715, inSolidarity Committee The John Bassett Theatre was flooded with OPSEU/SEFPO members to recognize the steadfast commitment of their peers in
Deena Ladd Brings the Fire at Convention 2025 Keynote
By Lorinda Seward, Local 351, Editor inSolidarity Deena Ladd, Executive Director of the Workers’ Action Centre, delivered a rousing keynote at OPSEU/SEFPO Convention 2025, energizing
Everybody wins – 4 easy steps for upping equity on the job and in the union
By Wendy Lee, Local 575, inSolidarity Committee Every year during Convention, the chair of each OPSEU/SEFPO Equity Committee and Caucus provides updates and encourages all
From Beads to Bravery: An Evening of 2SLGBTQI+ Solidarity and Strength
By Alexandrea Seggewiss, Local 715, inSolidarity Committee member With creativity, and community spirit, the Rainbow Alliance arc-en-ciel (RAA) welcomed guests to an evening of connection
Empowering Women in Labour: Reflections from OPSEU/SEFPO’s Annual Women’s Breakfast at Convention 2025
By Lorinda Seward, Local 351, Editor inSolidarity On the second day of Convention 2025, amidst the bustling energy of solidarity and activism, OPSEU/SEFPO’s annual Women’s
Updates in the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP)
By Wendy Lee, Local 575, inSolidarity Committee The Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP) is one of the strongest defined benefit pension plans in Canada,
inSolidarity’s Convention 2025 photo gallery
Convention 2025 photo gallery Have a pic or three you’d like to add to our gallery? Please email to [email protected]
Convention can be overwhelming – New Delegate Seminar helps demystify the event
By Lorinda Seward, Local 351, Editor inSolidarity Thousands of OPSEU/SEFPO delegates, alternates, and observers will converge on the Metro Toronto Convention Centre to shape the
See the truth, hear the truth, and speak the truth – Indigenous Circle leads smudging ceremony
By Craig Hadley, Local 5109, inSolidarity OPSEU/SEFPO Indigenous Circle wishes to welcome all delegates, alternates, observers, and guests to the OPSEU/SEFPO 2025 Annual Convention to
Hospital Professional members talk pensions, bargaining, and campaigning
By Wendy Lee, Local 575, inSolidarity Hospital Professional Division (HPD) Caucus Meeting The afternoon was chaired by Sara Labelle, HPD Division Chair. The meeting started
Welcome to Convention 2025! The inSolidarity Committee is here to help you make sense of it all
By Lorinda Seward, Local 351, Editor inSolidarity Convention is more than just a gathering – it’s the heart of our union’s democratic process. As the
Who Needs an Education Anyway?: How Anti-Intellectualism and Government Apathy Are Gutting Ontario Colleges
By Lorinda Seward, Local 351, Editor inSolidarity Once upon a time, getting a college education was seen as a ticket to stability – a good
The OPSEU/SEFPO Statement of Respect and Why It Matters
By Michael Hamilton, Local 376, inSolidarity Committee member At the beginning of any OPSEU/SEFPO function, we begin with the land acknowledgment and then the statement
Brush Up Your French — One Zoom Chat at a Time!
By Alex Seggewiss, Local 715, inSolidarity Committee member Picture this – it’s summer 1996, you’re at a family gathering and you managed to snag the
Meet the OPSEU/SEFPO members and staff running in the federal election
By Wendy Lee, Local 575, InSolidarity Federal Elections are upon Canadians again. We need to become familiar with who is going to be spear heading
Gift of life from Corrections Rehab Officer Katherine Hamilton
By Adrien DesRoches, Corporal, Central North Correctional Centre, Local 369 In April of 2023, Central North Correctional Centre (CNCC) Rehab Officer Katherine Hamilton made the
Boosting mental health for Corrections workers: The crucial role of member engagement in bargaining
By Alex Seggewiss, Local 715, inSolidarity Committee Member Disclaimer: This article discusses mental health and suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling with
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.