There are several significant events on the calendar this year for members of our sector. They include our upcoming pre-bargaining conference in February; the start of contract negotiations later in the year; OPSEU’s annual convention in April; and the biennial Broader Public Service (BPS) conference in late June. Throughout it all, we will make every effort to keep the 2,000 members of Sector 19 up to date on union developments that affect your working lives.
We hope that 2017 brings you and your families good health, happiness and prosperity!
In solidarity,
Your Sector 19 Divisional Executive
Where we work
OPSEU Sector 19members work in communities large and small throughout Ontario. Here’s a rundown of where our members work.
Canadian Blood Services and Diagnostics
Local 273: ONE Fertility Clinic, Burlington
Local 445: Ottawa Fertility Centre Inc.
Local 544: Cybermedix Health Services, a division of Life Labs LP, Mississauga
Local 659: Sudbury Vascular Laboratory Limited
Local 668: MyHealth Centre, Sudbury
Public Health Ontario
Local 113, London
Local 201, Hamilton
Local 308, Peterborough
Local 314, Orillia
Local 412, Ottawa
Local 432, Kingston
Locals 522 and 545 Toronto
Local 601, Sault Ste. Marie
Local 628, Sudbury
Local 649, Timmins
Local 716, Thunder Bay
CBS National Contact Centre
Local 619, Sudbury
Canadian Blood Services Technologists
Local 200, Brampton
Local 210, Hamilton
Local 5101, Toronto
Canadian Blood Services Support
Local 160, London
Local 200, Brampton
Local 210, Hamilton
Local 477, Ottawa
Local 5103, Toronto
Sector 19: Our aims and goals
Our aims and goals are found in the Sector (Division) Bylaws under Article 4. They are:
- promote justice, equality and efficiency in public services to the public;
- develop recommendations and strategies to guide member locals in collective bargaining;
- co-ordinate OPSEU activities within the division in the areas of political action, social justice, public relations, professional issues, and education;
- draw together division members to discuss matters of common interest;
- advance the aims, purposes and goals of the division inside OPSEU;
- promote and support the aims, purposes and goals of OPSEU, as a division and with other union sectors; and
- actively participate in the work of OPSEU’s Health Care Divisional Council.
Sector dues
Sector dues are required by January 1 of each calendar year. Correspondence from our treasurer, Jennifer Johnson, will be sent to all local presidents or highest-ranking officer with instructions. If your local is in arrears, please contact Jennifer for further information at: gingerjj85@live.com
BPS Conference 2017
The Broader Public Service Conference and divisional meetings are scheduled for June 23-25, 2017, at the Sheraton Hotel and Conference Centre in Toronto. All local presidents will receive a call-out for the conference — please keep this in mind if you are a composite local. All dues must be paid before the start of the conference. They can be submitted the same weekend.
Canadian Blood Services pre-bargaining conference
The CBS pre-bargaining conference will take place on Wednesday, February 8, 2017, at the Chelsea Hotel in Toronto. All CBS units are invited to attend as per our negotiation procedures that can be found in the OPSEU policy manual.
A call out has been sent to local presidents or highest ranking officers. They can also be found on the OPSEU website. Delegate entitlement will be included in the call-out package.
Public Health Ontario (PHO)
Eleven laboratories across the province are operated by PHO. Some of the services provided by PHO include: clinical and environmental testing, clinical consultation, technical and customer service support, education and training programs for laboratory professionals, evaluation of new laboratory technologies and methodologies, laboratory surveillance, tests for bioterrorism, and outbreak investigations
PHO pay equity update
On November 4, 2016, OPSEU filed an appeal with the Pay Equity Hearing Tribunal. Our union is working closely with your Central Union Management Committee as we proceed with the next steps in the appeal process. Detailed information about the appeal can be found on the OPSEU website. Look for the January edition of the PHOLine newsletter.
OPSEU Convention 2017
OPSEU's annual Convention will be held April 6-8, 2017 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
Delegates to Convention represent OPSEU’s highest-ranking authority. Those attending participate in debates and vote on policy, finances and constitutional resolutions. Awards, presentations and guest speakers are also part of this three-day event. Convention delegates elect the OPSEU President and First Vice-President/Treasurer every second year; 2017 is an election year.
Sector 19 Division Executive
Chair: Sean Allen (Local 477)
local477president@rogers.com
Vice-Chair: Katherine Zan-Payne (Local 160)
katherine.zan092@sympatico.ca
Secretary: Cathie Bergman-Richards (Local 160)
richards_cathie@hotmail.com
Treasurer: Jennifer Johnson (Local 5103)
gingerjj85@live.com
Member at Large: Shah Nawaz (Local 545)
shahnawaz.l@gmail.com
Stay in touch with OPSEU
Office hours: Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. – 4:3 p.m.
Telephone: 416-443-8888
Toll free: 1-800-268-7376
email: opseu@opseu.org
Visit: www.opseu.org
Sector 19: http://opseu.org/sector/cbs-diagnostics
OPSEU members portal: Sign up today at members.opseu.org. Be sure you have your union membership card handy, as you will need your number. Service is available in English and French.