Special edition
Getting Unified
Table Talk Newsletter Special Issue #9What happens on December 31, 2024?
On December 31, 2024, the current OPS Unified Collective Agreement is set to expire, as outlined in Article UN 17 – Term of Agreement.What does this mean?
The current Collective agreement will remain in effect until a new collective agreement is ratified or a strike or lockout happens. In the event of a strike or lockout the collective agreement is suspended until ratification of a new agreement.In June 2024, the bargaining team provided the employer with notice to bargain Emergency and Essential Services Agreement (EESA), ensuring we are prepared for the bargaining process ahead.On December 12, 2024, we notified the employer of intent to bargain issues as per Crown Employees Collective Bargaining Act (CECBA). Parties are required to notify their intent to bargain a new collective agreement.What is the Collective Agreement (CA)?
The CA is an agreement between the Union and the Employer which sets out the pay, benefits and working conditions for OPS Unified members.Click here to find your current CA and more!What is Demand Set and why is it so important?
A “demand set” is the list of specific bargaining demands and/or priorities that members submit to their bargaining team for collective bargaining negotiations.Key points about demand set:
Members’ input: The demand set is created by collecting input from union members through meetings, surveys, or other methods to ensure working conditions and contract demands are addressed in a way that reflects the needs and priorities of the membership.The Phase One Survey was your First Step in your OPS Unified Demand Set Process.The next step will be a Phase Two demand set survey which will focus on the membership demands.Here’s how it works:
Throughout the Demand Set process, the Unified Bargaining Team engages members to determine desired changes in the next contract.Update your information on the member portal to ensure that you get the survey And other important updates!Members can propose language changes regarding workload, salary, benefits, and working conditions. Language changes regarding allowances, grievances and areas not yet covered in the contract can also be submitted.Your OPS Unified Bargaining Team will analyze the data and submissions.Once finalized, the demand set serves as the Bargaining Team’s primary guide when sitting down with the employer to discuss collective agreement improvements. It’s how we ensure we’re fighting for what you want!Your Phase One Demand Set Survey closed on December 16th, 2024.More than 5,000 Phase 1 surveys were completed, providing critical insights into members’ priorities. The team is analyzing this data to help inform our next steps.Stay tuned for the next phase of the demand set process. Your participation is essential.The Role of the Bargaining Team
The Bargaining Team’s role is to advance and fight for the demands of the members. Every member is affected by what is– or is not – in our collective agreement.The success of negotiating a fair contract requires teamwork, clear communication, and unwavering commitment to advancing our collective interests. The Bargaining Team is responsible for drafting proposals, developing strategies, tracking progress, presenting the employer with our demands and keeping you informed along the way.OPS Unified Bargaining Team Update
As we approach the end of the year and the expiry of our OPS Unified collective agreement, the bargaining team wants to update you on where things are in the bargaining process.The bargaining team is currently focused on negotiating essential and emergency services. This is a necessary step under the Crown Employees Collective Bargaining Act (CECBA) because OPS Unified has the right to strike.In preparation, the team collected Essential and Emergency Services Agreement (EESA) forms from local presidents across dozens of ministries. These forms have given us data that will assist us greatly with our negotiations. Thanks for your participation!Throughout this process, we are continuing to build our collective power. Regional mobilizers are working with unifiers to map locals, strengthen connections, and organize for success.Building Solidarity:As we move into 2025, your involvement will be critical.- Keep your information on the membership portal updated
- Read and share your monthly Table Talk Newsletter
- Attend the monthly table talks
- Share updates with your colleagues
- Organize collective actions in your workplace.
- Join your Area Coordinating Group Chats (ACG)
- OPS Unified | Linktree