Members on board for bargaining
March 23 action shows big support for team
A province-wide event held March 23 to show support for the OPSEU bargaining team at the LCBO was an overwhelming success. OPSEU members from north, south, east, and west proudly wore stickers proclaiming, “We’re all in the same boat!”
The level of support impressed the OPSEU mobilizers who had been promoting the day.
“I went to 25 stores, and of those 25 stores, I only had one not wearing the stickers,” said Kevin Ramsay, a mobilizer in Toronto. “That was because they didn’t have the stickers. When I arrived with the stickers, they happily put them on.”
“People are getting excited,” said Eileen Allen, mobilizer for OPSEU Local 379, which stretches from Lindsay to Cobourg to Algonquin Park. “They’re just waiting for the next bulletin to come out.”
Mike Sullivan, mobilizer for Local 165, said takeaways the LCBO put on the bargaining table have angered a lot of staff. “Let’s just say members were pleased to share their feelings with me about what was tabled,” he said.
Bargaining continues
OPSEU and the LCBO returned to the bargaining table March 23 and will continue to talk through the week.
“I know members have a lot of questions about what’s happening at the bargaining table, the bargaining schedule, and so on, “says OPSEU bargaining team chair Vanda Klumper. “While obviously we want to be prepared for what might happen down the road, right now our main focus is on getting into constructive dialogue with the employer.
“For now we think it’s best to let things unfold at the table, so people shouldn’t be expecting any urgent news just yet,” she said. “At this stage, the team is just asking members to get informed, to help their co-workers get informed, and to show their support in every way possible.
“We will update the OPSEU website regularly as things progress,” she said. “Just remember, if you’re hearing something through the rumour mill and it’s not on our website, you can be sure it’s only a rumour.”
Bargaining dates
The OPSEU bargaining team for the Liquor Board Employees Division first met with LCBO representatives on March 9-10 and returned to the table March 23. Bargaining is currently scheduled for March 23-26, April 1-2, April 6-9, April 14-16, April 27-May 1, and May 4-8.
More dates will be scheduled if necessary.
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, 376
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