The Bargaining Team would like to give an update on some changes within the team.
It is with mixed emotions that the Bargaining Team has said goodbye to our Chair, Amanda Usher. Amanda has taken a staff position with OPSEU/SEFPO as an OPS Negotiator.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Amanda Usher, who is stepping away from the Bargaining Team to pursue this exciting new opportunity. Amanda has been a dedicated, thoughtful, and tireless advocate for our members. Her voice, insight, and unwavering commitment to equity and fairness have strengthened our work and supported our collective goals.
While we will miss her presence at the table, we are incredibly proud of her next steps and grateful for everything she has contributed. Amanda leaves with our full appreciation and best wishes for continued success.
The Bargaining Team welcomes Shawn Burr as the new CERC designee. Shawn Burr is the chair of MECP MERC and was a member of a previous Bargaining Team. Shawn brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to our negotiations.
In keeping with our bargaining procedures, Leslie Aiston will vacate the Vice-Chair position to fill the role of Chair. The bargaining team will elect a new Vice-Chair on April 16. The results of that election will be communicated to members at the Table Talk meeting that evening as well as further email communications to members.
Transitions like these remind us of the strength of our union: we support one another, we celebrate each other’s growth, and we continue the work with renewed energy. With Shawn joining the team and Amanda moving forward into a new chapter, we remain united in our commitment to representing and fighting for our members.
Central Employee Relations Committee and Convention
By the time you’re reading this, the 2026 OPSEU/SEFPO Convention is already underway.
The Central Employees Relations Committee (CERC) is holding an OPS Unified Caucus Thursday (today!) at 5pm to 6:45pm, April 12th 2026, bringing together members from across the OPS to connect, share updates on bargaining, and discuss key workplace issues.
There are many Ministry Employee Relations Committees (MERCs) who will also be holding a caucus during Convention; please review the agenda and notices for the date, time and location.
These spaces only work when members participate. If you’re not already involved, now’s a great time to start. Talk to your local leadership about how to get involved in your MERC or your Local Employee Relations Committee (LERC).
OPS Unified also has a table in the marketplace this year! Stop by, say hello, and pick up some materials to take back to your local and Union board. One-on one-conversations matter – that is where relationships are built and solidarity grows. This year the marketplace is located on the 100 level in room 105.
Unified for information: Early Retirement Options
The results from the OPS Unified Demand Set Survey showed that members are interested in pursuing possible early retirement factors during negotiations for our new collective agreement.
As a result, we have developed an information bulletin and pension calculator for OPS Unified members to use and get a rough idea of what these contributions would look like.
Bargaining Procedures
The bargaining procedures the OPS Unified bargaining team is following were democratically approved at the 2022 OPS Divisional meeting. These procedures were developed after years of discussions from 2017 to 2019 with previous bargaining team members, MERCs, and regional input.
At the 2022 OPS Divisional Meeting, delegates – including MERC members, local Employee Relations Committee chairs or delegates, and local presidents representing OPS Unified members -debated and voted on over 75 recommendations. The main change in section 3.3.8 now requires Essential and Emergency Services Agreements (EESA) to be completed before issues bargaining begins. This gives OPS Unified its real leverage going into issues bargaining. If the employer refuses to come to the table to negotiate a fair contract we’ll be able to use this leverage. Once we have a strike mandate from a strike vote amongst our members and a no board is issued by a conciliator, we would be in a position to take strike action after 17 days .
The bargaining team is working diligently through this process. In 2005 and 2015, lengthy EESA negotiations following an impasse in issues bargaining caused member disengagement, and the employer exploited that loss of momentum by offering deals with zero wage increases that members voted to accept.
OPS Unified members deserve better. Every work site agreement is being carefully negotiated and verified, with the team identifying inconsistencies in employer-provided job descriptions and outdated organizational charts, to ensure we limit what’s deemed Essential or Emergency work. Our goal is straightforward: protect members by completing these agreements thoroughly so we can move to issues bargaining from a strong position, ready to take meaningful action if needed.
Fixed Term and Seasonal Working Group
Are you passionate about improving the working conditions of precarious workers within OPS Unified?
Join the next working group meeting on Zoom: April 21, 2026 – 12:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m. EDT
Join Us
American Sign Language (ASL) Provided at Monthly Table Talks!
Did you know that monthly table talks are offered in ASL? Having interpreters at these meetings ensures that members needing ASL interpretation are able to get bargaining updates from the team and have their questions answered.
Making union spaces accessible is a core value of the labour movement. OPS Unified and OPSEU/SEFPO are proud to offer this service to members so they can be informed & empowered in our fight for a fair contract.
- Who: The bargaining team would like to invite Unified members to Table Talk Thursdays.
- What is Table Talk Thursdays? Table Talk Thursdays are Zoom sessions where YOUR bargaining team shares updates and insights with union members about ongoing negotiations and activities. Join us to stay informed and engaged with the latest news and developments.
- Where: It happens over ZOOM.
- When: This happens every third Thursday of the month from 7 pm to 8 pm EDT (6 pm CDT). The next session will be April 16.
- Why: To keep the lines of communication open!
Grassroots Initiative: Register for The Next Unifiers Meeting – April 22!
OPS Unified members who want to build power and strengthen our collective ability to stand up to the employer and defend public service jobs are invited!
Unifiers are a group of member organizers committed to turning our frustration into meaningful action. Together, we’ll discuss the actions members are already taking and explore additional opportunities for collective action.
Join us on April 22, 2026 at 7:00pm on Zoom!
Don’t forget to wear your black shirt on April 22 for the meeting!