OPSEU/SEFPO President JP Hornick and First Vice-President Laurie Nancekivell led the largest affiliate caucus at the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) Convention this week. OPSEU/SEFPO members from every region and every equity committee and caucus participated in six days of intense discussions and debates on the future of the labour movement in Ontario.
(OPSEU/SEFPO’s inSolidarity team was there, sharing live highlights from the OFL Convention on Facebook – check out their coverage here, and give them a follow!)
The week began with a caucus meeting on Sunday evening for OPSEU/SEFPO delegates, where they were given an overview of Convention by our representatives on the OFL Executive Board. From Monday to Friday of Convention, OFL delegates from every affiliate including OPSEU/SEFPO heard from some inspiring guest speakers, including:
- Terry Melvin, International President, Coalition of Black Trade Unionists
- Stephen Brown, CEO, National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM)
- Natalie Mehra, Executive Director of the Ontario Health Coalition.
Much of the time on the OFL Convention floor was spent on resolutions that ranged from support for Grassy Narrows and the Land Alliance to stopping the privatization of our public assets. President Hornick spoke to OPSEU/SEFPO’s resolution about combating the rise of hate and transphobia. First Vice-President/Treasurer Nancekivell spoke to OPSEU/SEFPO’s resolution connecting support for wildland fire fighters to climate change, as well as resolutions about pay equity and women’s work. Hornick also amended the Action Plan to ensure the OFL would oppose the criminalization of political dissent.
OPSEU/SEFPO members Krista Maracle spoke to the resolutions from the FNMI circle about clean water and supporting indigenous communities while Elizabeth Ha spoke to a resolution about the need to support status for all migrant workers.
OPSEU/SEFPO Region 5 Executive Board Member (EBM) Julius Arscott ran for the position of Secretary Treasurer; while he was not successful, he raised the issue of mobilizing members across Ontario in preparation for the next round of bargaining. Region 5 Regional Vice President Coleen Houlder spoke to a resolution about the need to education union members about systems of discrimination. And Region 4 EBM Veronica Attard spoke passionately to the issue of international student tuition from her perspective as a CAAT-S member.
Federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh addressed the convention floor as did Ontario NDP Labour Critic Jamie West. MPP West spoke about the anti-scab legislation – Bill 90 – he had introduced at Queen’s Park. OPSEU/SEFPO President JP Hornick was one of the union leaders invited to speak at the Queen’s Park press gallery about Bill 90 this week.
The OFL delegates attended workshops on housing affordability, pensions, human rights, a women’s forum and health safety. OPSEU/SEFPO joined a spirited march through the financial district of Toronto, calling for affordable housing in solidarity with tenants organizing against rapacious landlords. Delegates also had an opportunity to socialize together at Thursday night’s Enough is Enough dance party!
In OFL election news, OPSEU/SEFPO members Bonnie Eddy and Nadia Stallaert were elected alternate VPs to the OFL Women’s and Young Workers Committees respectively. OPSEU/SEFPO Region 6 EBM Rob Boulet was elected VP representing the OFL’s Solidarity and Pride Committee and will join Hornick and Nancekivell who sit on the OFL Executive Board.
All three of them were sworn in on Friday morning, alongside newly elected OFL President Laura Walton and OFL Executive Vice-President Jackie Taylor, and Ahmad Gaied, who was re-elected OFL Secretary/Treasurer. OPSEU/SEFPO shares heartfelt thanks to outgoing OFL President Patty Coates and Executive Vice-President Janice Folk Dawson for their years of service to the workers of Ontario, and for their strong leadership in the OFL.
