Seeking job protection, a voice in the workplace and more consistent treatment by management, the nearly 40 frontline security workers at the University of Ottawa have voted unanimously to join OPSEU.
“There’s strength in numbers, and I’m proud to welcome these U of O workers as the newest members of our 165,000-strong union,” said OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas. “I’m confident that we can help them make their workplace and the services they provide even better.”
The new U of O members join university security workers at the University of Toronto, the University of Guelph, Carleton University, and Western University who already belong to OPSEU.
OPSEU First Vice-President/Treasurer Eduardo (Eddy) Almeida, who is a correctional officer, said that by joining OPSEU, the U of O security workers will now have the power they need to make their campuses even more secure.
“I know from experience that working in the security field is tough,” said Almeida. “Having good back-up is key. In OPSEU, they’ve got the best workplace back-up there is.”
The new OPSEU members work as team coordinators and security guards and provide around-the-clock protection services on all of the university’s campus locations across Ottawa.
“We all know that in order to provide a good education, a university must provide safety and security in the classroom and across its campuses,” said Kella Loschiavo, OPSEU’s Universities Sector Chair. “On behalf of all 6,000 university workers in OPSEU, I’d like to say welcome to our great union.”