Strike deadline looms:Will Dalton McGuinty spend $5 million a day to prevent good jobs?
As the hours tick down to a strike deadline, the key question in bargaining has boiled down to this: Will Dalton McGuinty spend $5 million a day to prevent good jobs in Ontario?
OPSEU has been clear from the start that these contract talks are all about what kind of province we want to live in.
Do we want a province where most people are scraping by on part-time, temporary jobs with no benefits, no security, and no way to save for retirement? Or do we want a province with good jobs that allow people to live decently, bring their children up properly, and retire with dignity?
“It’s time for Premier McGuinty to say which side he’s on,” said OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas. “If any employer can afford to protect and create good jobs, it’s the LCBO, and Dalton controls it.”
In McGuinty’s Ontario, high-priced executives make heaps of money while working people struggle, Thomas said. He pointed to the current e-Health scandal as an example.
“McGuinty hired Sarah Kramer at $380,000 a year to create a system for electronic health records,” he said. “Five months into the job, she got a bonus of $114,000. A few months later, she left and got severance pay of $317,000.
“It’s time our premier showed some concern for the real people who do the real work that keeps this province running,” Thomas said. “If we end up on strike, it will be because McGuinty would rather lose $5 million a day than protect and create good jobs in our communities.”
In 2007-08 the LCBO sent $1.345 billion in profits and $383 million in sales taxes to Queen’s Park for a total of $1.728 billion, or $4.7 million a day on average. In peak periods like summer, the number is much, much higher.
Bargaining continues; we’re ready to strike
“The next few days are going to be intense”
Bargaining between the LCBO and OPSEU resumed on Monday, June 15. The two sides have agreed to meet through the weekend and right up to the strike deadline of 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday.
OPSEU members at the LCBO are ready to strike if necessary.
In the last few weeks, members across Ontario have been registering for strike pay and attending picket sign parties. OPSEU locals are opening Strike Headquarters and nailing down picketing strategies if the union bargaining team says go.
“On behalf of the bargaining team, I want to thank each and every member whose work has brought us to this state of readiness,” said Vanda Klumper, chair of the union bargaining team. “Stand firm and be ready. The next few days are going to be intense.”
Meet your mobilizers!
OPSEU mobilizers are your co-workers at the LCBO. They’re the direct link between you and your bargaining team. The following people are assigned as mobilizers in the OPSEU locals indicated.
Guy Jeremschuck: Local 162
Dave Holmes: Local 163
Mike Robertson: Local 164
Mike Sullivan: Local 165
Bonnie Jolley: Local 284
Paula Sossi: Local 285
Deb Altoft: Local 286
Shawn Swayze: Local 287
Matt Savelli: Local 287
Frank Gullace: Local 288
Maria Bauer: Locals 375, 3766
Doug Parks: Locals 377, 378
Eileen Allen: Local 379
Terri Taylor: Locals 497, 498
Devon Ford: Locals 499, 4100
Kevin Ramsay: Locals 5107, 5110
Roberto Ianni: Locals 5108, 5111
Craig Hadley: Locals 5109, 5110, 5111
Mellisa Jackson: All Locals in OPSEU Region 6
Anne Makela: All Locals in Region 7
Your bargaining team
The OPSEU bargaining team for the Liquor Board Employees Division consists of seven members:
Vanda Klumper, Chair, OPSEU Local 165 [email protected]
Denise Davis, Vice-Chair, Local 378 [email protected]
Dora Robinson, Local 376 [email protected]
Tracy Vyfschaft, Local 377 [email protected]
Lori Davis, Local 499 [email protected]
Colleen MacLeod, Local 5107 [email protected]
Laurie Miller, Local 682 [email protected]
The bargaining team is assisted by OPSEU Senior Negotiator Rob Field, Senior Researcher Joyce Hansen, and other assigned staff.
Stay informed
As negotiations pick up speed, make it your priority to stay on top of bargaining news.
1. Attend upcoming bargaining information meetings
2. Receive this bargaining bulletin (and our regular newsletter, the Echo) directly by e-mail. Just call OPSEUdirect at 1-800-268-7376 or (416) 443-8888 and give the operator your name and e-mail address.
EAP Hotline: 1-800-263-1401
The LCBO Employee Assistance Program is a confidential, hassle-free counseling service for eligible LCBO employees and their immediate families. For assistance, call 1-800-263-1401.
Your 2009 Bargaining Bulletin is authorized for distribution by:
Vanda Klumper, Chair,
Liquor Board Employees Division
Warren (Smokey) Thomas, President, OPSEU
Ontario Public Service Employees Union