The latest bargaining and mobilizing news for OPS members
Bargaining will move forward
A lot can change in a couple of weeks.
While the shock waves from the recent announcement from the Liberals at Queen’s Park are just beginning to subside, many members are asking how this will impact bargaining for the OPS.
Let’s back up a bit and set the stage.
On October 4, we decided not to serve the government notice to bargain. This is the same government that was getting ready to introduce legislation that would, in effect, totally destroy our ability to bargain a contract. In other words, we were not going to volunteer to have our own throats cut.
This was, of course, merely a symbolic move. Either side in negotiations can serve notice to bargain. As expected, the employer served us notice to bargain the very next morning.
McGuinty’s announcement that he plans to resign as Premier has no impact on us. What DOES make a difference is that he is also proroguing the Legislature. This means there are no more debates at Queen’s Park, no more daily Question Periods, and, more importantly, all pending legislation is now scrapped and new legislation can’t be passed.
Therefore, the “Protecting Public Services Act” is now gone.
That puts us back to where we started: Bargaining with the employer for a new OPS agreement, in difficult economic times but without the threat of imposed contracts hanging over our heads.
We continue to prepare our opening position to present to the employer when we meet for the first time on Tuesday, November 13.
To be clear, our job has not gotten any easier. We will definitely face a lot of challenges trying to negotiate a quality collective agreement for the OPS. What will be crucial is the support from the members. We’re counting on you to provide us the strength we need at the table. With that strength, we will achieve success.
Member mobilizers in training next week
Our 27 OPS member mobilizers will begin two days of training on Monday, Oct. 22. With the Ontario government now in “pause” mode, their work will be even more critical this round.
The mobilizers for the 2012 OPS Negotiations are:
Regional Mobilizers
Region 1
Mickey Riccardi Lorna Bulgin Todd Snider (Corrections)
Region 2
Lorraine Skitch Stuart McInnes Paula Hagen (Corrections)
Region 3
Autumn Butsch Lisa Egan Sean Platt (Corrections)
Region 4
Ryan Nickel Ben Treidlinger Ron Pilon (Corrections)
Region 5
Julius Arscott Cindy Kraakman June Morrison Dan Marshall (Corrections)
Region 6
John Berry Janice Zultek Mike Bisaillon (Corrections)
Region 7
Jennifer Roukkula Terri Morris Neil MacDonald (Corrections)
Issues Mobilizers
Service Ontario Teresa Rolls
ODSP Pam Smith
MNR Environment & North Dave Fluri
Corrections Scott McIntyre
Social Media Coordinator Jennie Miller
OPS lanyards now available
Lanyards have arrived in time for OPS bargaining. Local presidents are invited to order “Choose Public” lanyards for members to wear in the workplace.
Contact us:
Central/Unified Team
[email protected]
Twitter: @OPSCentralTeam
Corrections Team
[email protected]
Twitter: @DanSidsworth
Don’t listen to rumours! TableTalk Update is your only official communication from the OPS Bargaining Teams.
Your OPS Bargaining teams
Central/Unified Team
| Roxanne Barnes, Chair | CERC |
| Ron Langer, Vice-Chair | Region 1 |
| Elaine Young, | Region 2 |
| Tammy Carson | Region 3 |
| Daryl O’Grady | Region 4 |
| Edie Strachan | Region 5 |
| Pierre Verhelst | Region 6 |
| John Watson | Region 7 |
| Len Elliott | Administration |
| Barb Friday | Corrections |
| Cindy Falcao | Institutional and Health Care |
| Betty Marchegiano | Office Administration |
| Shelley McCormick | Office Administration |
| Cam Jay | Operational & Maintenance/Technical |
| Jeff Weston | Fixed Term |
| Ruth Hamilton | Staff Negotiator |
Corrections Team
| Trish Goden | Region 1 |
| Dan Sidsworth, | Chair Region 2 |
| Glenna Caldwell, | Vice-Chair Region 3 |
| Brian Dunham | Region 4 |
| Monte Vieselmeyer | Region 5 |
| Jim Mitchell | Region 6 |
| Greg Arnold | Region 7 |
| Rob Field | Staff Negotiator |
Original authorized for distribution:
Roxanne Barnes, Chair Central/Unified Team
Dan Sidsworth, Chair Corrections Team
Warren (Smokey) Thomas, President Ontario Public Service Employees Union
