Friends,
As 2021 comes to a close, we’d like to express our deepest gratitude for all OPSEU/SEFPO’s members and staff and wish you a safe, happy holiday and New Year.
The past year – now our second one living through this global health pandemic – has undoubtedly been challenging. The work of our union – keeping workplaces safe and keeping public services strong – has been more important than ever. We’ve fought hard together and achieved a lot of progress, and our union family has a lot to be proud of.
While the holiday season is often a time of festivities and cheer, we know that’s not always the case for many Ontarians, particularly as we face the effects of this new COVID-19 variant. Many OPSEU/SEFPO members are out on the front lines keeping our public services, and our province, running and protecting the health of Ontarians. Many members are experiencing pandemic fatigue and mental health struggles. Many are dealing their own personal challenges.
This holiday season, let’s all remember to be kind and respectful to one another, to do our part by following safety protocols, and for those who are able, we encourage you to make a plan to get your booster shot or get vaccinated as soon as possible. Together, we will get through this pandemic and enjoy the brighter days ahead.
We can’t be certain of all that the next year will bring, but one thing we can be certain of is the power of our union’s solidarity. Over the decades, our union has proven its ability to thrive – even through the hardest of times. As we enter 2022, we are confident that our collective strength and determination will continue to take us far in the fight to protect and improve workers’ rights.
As always, we are proud to be leaders in this great union. Thank you to our members and staff for another successful year, and we look forward to seeing you all (in-person or virtually) in the New Year!
In Solidarity,
Warren (Smokey) Thomas, OPSEU/SEFPO President
Eduardo (Eddy) Almeida, OPSEU/SEFPO First Vice-President/Treasurer