Mental Health and Addictions
The division was founded in 2001 to provide a strong, cohesive voice within OPSEU to promote awareness and treatment of mental health and addiction issues. We represent just over 8,000 members in public hospitals, which were formerly known as provincial psychiatric hospitals, as well as community mental and addiction health agencies.
Latest News
Bargaining
People have been left out in the dark by AMHS
The Kingston Whig-Standard has written a long article about the growing number of clients and…
People with addictions, mental illness will suffer if dozens of highly experienced workers are laid off
Kingston – OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas is urging the temporary supervisor of Addiction and…
Management overhaul needed at Waypoint Mental Health: OPSEU
Penetanguishene – Waypoint workers have voted unanimously to demand the immediate resignation of all senior…
Rideauwood addictions workers ratify their first contract
Ottawa – Roughly 40 OPSEU members who provide addictions counselling and services at Rideauwood Addiction…
Rideauwood addictions workers reach tentative agreement on first contract
Ottawa – After a lengthy round of bargaining, approximately 40 workers with Rideauwood Addiction and…
Rideauwood Bargaining Fact Sheet
Strike vote Thousands of people depend on the treatment we provide, but we can’t provide…
Rideauwood Addiction and Family Services Bargaining Update
Our employer promises to treat the people and communities we serve with “compassion and respect.”…
Conciliator to assist with negotiations at Owen Sound HopeGreyBruce
Owen Sound – Staff at HopeGreyBruce Mental Health and Addictions Services will be in conciliation with…
Letter from RPN Occupational Division in support of College Faculty
The OPSEU RPN Occupational Division sent the following letter of support to the members of the…
CMHA workers in Brant Haldimand Norfolk ratify first contract
Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) workers in the Brant Haldimand Norfolk region have ratified their…
OPTrust retirement benefits: workers’ win enhanced
OPSEU members with less than 10 years’ service in the OPTrust pension plan will now…
OPSEU calls off contract talks at Waypoint
The union representing employees at Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care in Penetanguishene has suspended…
OPSEU CMHA Thunder Bay votes 93% in favour of a strike!
The high turnout for the strike vote gives the Bargaining Team a strong mandate. The…
Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care refuses to negotiate Health and Safety concerns
The bargaining team representing 1,200 employees at Waypoint made the decision to suspend talks after…
Timmins CMHA workers reach tentative agreement before strike deadline
Canadian Mental Health Association workers in northeastern Ontario, represented by OPSEU Local 631, reached a…
Northern CMHA staff to greet board with picket November 19
TIMMINS – Unionized staff at the Cochrane-Timiskaming Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) will greet their…
Waterloo-Wellington-Dufferin CMHA workers to hold Nov. 15 rallies to support negotiations
The union representing almost 300 workers at the Canadian Mental Health Association – Waterloo- Wellington-Dufferin…
Events
Friday, October 18, 2019
4:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Thursday, October 17, 2019
4:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Information
Template submission: Ontario Health Coalition public consultation on hospital reform
Template submission for use by members of OPSEU As part of a public consultation on hospital reform, the Ontario Health…
HOOPP seeks OPSEU trustee
The OPSEU Pension Liaison Committee invites you or someone you know to get involved with the Healthcare of Ontario Pension…
Take action to improve workplace health and safety!
Take action! A message from Ed Arvelin, Chair of OPSEU’s Mental Health Division As members of OPSEU’s Mental Health Division we…
From Knowledge to Action - A health and safety toolkit
A health and safety toolkit for OPSEU members facing violence at work in health care generally and mental health facilities…
OPSEU EBM defends public health care before budget committee
Good afternoon. My name is Len Elliott, Regional Vice-President for the Ontario Public Service Employees Union for Region 1, which…
Speaking notes for OPSEU presentation to pre-budget consultation in Windsor
Good morning. My name is Philip Shearer. I am an Executive Board Member with the Ontario Public Service Employees Union…
RPN Occupational Division Committee Members
Lucy Morton, Chair Sector 17 – Community Health Care Professionals lucyamorton@rogers.com Christine Marshall, Vice Chair Sector 11 – Hospital Support…
Critical Safety issues at Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care
Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care: A brief overview OPSEU Local 329 represents more than 1,200 workers at Waypoint Centre…
Proponents for an OPSEU RPN committee seeking help
Hello Sisters & Brothers: Some time ago, several of our healthcare sectors were approached about re-establishing the RPN (Registered Practical…
Divestment Pension Transfers Question & Answers
Information Surrounding Pension Transfers for Divested OPSEU Members OPSEU members who are still working and who may have pension contributions…
Caplan’s Report “Every Door is the Right Door” is Seriously Flawed
Toronto – Patty Rout, First Vice President Treasurer of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union told an all-party committee in…
Ontario Shores eliminates 55 positions to balance budget
Ontario Shores is eliminating 55 positions at the former Whitby Mental Health Centre in order to cope with underfunding from…
Information Picket: CMHA Oxford staff picket because of employer’s bargaining tactics: employer leaves table before money discussed
WOODSTOCK – How do you bargain a first contract when the employer leaves the table before the word ‘money’ is…
OPSEU Local 152 CMHA Oxford picket successful
WOODSTOCK – OPSEU Local 152 and its 41 members are asking after Oxford’s Canadian Mental Health Association set up information…
Walk The Talk on Mental Health - London Rally March 9
LONDON – Words are not enough. OPSEU members in London and St. Thomas are calling upon the community to help…
OPSEU Healthcare Submissions
Health consultations a political ploy, not a listening exercise: OPSEU President Thomas
Toronto – While Premier Doug Ford sits in exile during the federal election, his ministers seem to be using his…
Rallies to save the services that save us
The Ontario Health Coalition is planning a series of rallies to show opposition to the Ford government’s underfunding of health…
OPSEU recognizes October as Autism Awareness Month
October is Autism Awareness Month in Canada – an important time to recognize the unique contributions of those living with…
Health Care Divisional Council
Support Mental Health Week May 2-8
OPSEU is encouraging all of its members to mark Mental Health Week on their calendars. This is an important week for all Canadians, not just those suffering mental health issues. It is also an opportunity to educate ourselves about how our mental health impacts our overall health. more…
Waypoint: Stay Safe, Be Safe
Contacts
Shirley Shepherd
Secretary
Email: shirl.shepherd@gmail.com
Cynthia Ladouceur
Treasurer
Email: ladiesadie@icloud.com
Kevin Hudson
Bargaining Coordinator
Email: kevinhudson@sympatico.ca
Carol Mundley Bennett
Health & Safety Coordinator
Cell: (647) 625-6582
Email: cmundley@hotmail.com
Maggie Wakeford
Membership Coordinator
Email: maggiewakeford58@gmail.com
Tischa Forster
Division/Sector Executive
Vice Chair
Email: teesha@hotmail.ca
Dustin Bayley
Division/Sector Executive
Secretary
Email: dustinbayley@gmail.com
Andrew Drake
Division/Sector Executive
Public Policy & Campaigns
Email: andrewddrake17@gmail.com
Ed Arvelin
Division/Sector Executive
Chair
Email: eddyarvelin720@gmail.com
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