For OPSEU Staff And Members
Anti-Black racism is not new.
The brutality of current events, heightened by social media’s incredible power to share and motivate, has shifted the world into action. Systemic racism is deadly real. It is deeply rooted in a painful history that has disproportionately affected Black communities for generations.
OPSEU recognizes this and will be a leader in effecting change. We are inviting all staff and members to take part in this important conversation.
Together we will create real, meaningful change – change that does not leave anyone behind.
The town hall will be hosted by well-known personality and anti-Black racism activist Farley Flex, and will feature a panel of OPSEU members – including President Warren (Smokey) Thomas and First Vice-President/Treasurer Eduardo (Eddy) Almeida – and OPSEU staff.
To accommodate different schedules, the town hall will take part in two sessions:
- Noon to 1:30 pm EST on Tuesday, July 7
- 7 to 8:30 pm EST on Tuesday, July 7
All members and staff are welcome to participate in one or both of the sessions.
How to participate
There are a variety of ways to participate in either English or French.
If you’re an OPSEU member and OPSEU has your up-to-date phone number, all you have to do is pick up the phone. We’ll call you around 10 to 15 minutes before the session starts – just stay on the line and you’ll be connected to the call. (To ensure OPSEU has your most up-to-date number, please call 1-800-268-7376.)
Please note: OPSEU staff members will NOT receive one of these calls.
OPSEU members and staff can also participate by dialing in directly or over the web. Here’s how:
English
- 877-229-8493 (ENGLISH)
- ID code: 112847
- Web streaming (English, audio-only, closed-captioning is available)
French
- 877-255-5810 (FRENCH)
- ID code: 117019
- Web streaming (French, audio-only)*
*Please note that closed-captioning is not available in French.
Panelists
Shauna-Kay Cassell
Carlotta Ewing
Carlotta is a member from OPSEU Local 228 and currently works as a Court Clerk and Registrar for the Ministry of the Attorney General. She strives to create opportunities through education that enlighten and empower others about the importance of tolerance and compassion in the workplace so that things such as homophobia, islamophobia, and systematic racism become unbeknownst to places as diverse as the OPS and OPSEU.
Peter Thompson
Evan Wickham
Andrea McCormack
Joscelyn Ross
Farley Flex – moderator