Category: Events
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The F-Word: Reclaiming Feminism – OPSEU’s 2015 Women’s Conference
The OPSEU Provincial Women’s Committee held their 2015 Women’s Conference – The “F” Word—Reclaiming Feminism! – on November 6-8, 2015 in downtown Toronto. The goal of the conference was to educate and raise awareness about how women can engage in activism in an age of backlash against feminism and in the fight to reclaim feminism. Conference Summary…
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Convention 2015 Minutes
May 7 – 9, 2015 Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto download 2015 Convention Minutes Thursday, May 7, 2015 – Morning Session President Thomas, called the Convention to order at 9:13 a.m. The Harassment and Discrimination Policy was presented in video format. President Thomas identified the Advisors and Investigators under the Harassment and Discrimination Policy for…
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Take Back Our Hospitals – Day of Action against the cuts at North Bay Regional Health Centre
Rally with members of OPSEU Local 662, along with a coalition of health advocates, health workers and patients who want the provincial government to not only stop reductions at the North Bay Regional Health Centre, but to restore services which have already been cut. North Bay is facing among the worst hospital cuts in all…
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Celebrating Human Rights Day in OPSEU Region 2
In commemoration of Human Rights Day in December, OPSEU's Provincial Human Rights Committee (PHRC) is proud to present: Attitude is Everything – Be You. Be Yourself. Be Brilliant. Join fellow members and activists from Region 2 for an empowering evening conversation with Talli Osborne. She is an inspirational speaker who was born missing her arms…
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How to finance public works
Dear friends, Borrowing money is back in style. Justin Trudeau’s success at the ballot box this week showed that Canadians aren’t afraid to borrow money to build the country. We need more public transit and other vital infrastructure, and we need it now. So if we don’t have the money today, we have to borrow.…
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Region 3 – Train the Trainer 1
Are you ready to learn new facilitation skills with other particiapnts who have demonstrated a commitment to using labour education as part of their work as activists? OPSEU's Train the Trainer1: Focus on Facilitation Skills introduces participants to the theory and practice of activist education used at OPSEU. Its focus is effective facilitation and co-facilitation,…
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Promises to keep
Dear friends, Canada is getting a new Prime Minister. On October 19, Justin Trudeau and his Liberal candidates came in first in 184 ridings, more than enough to win a majority of seats in Parliament. Many of us are disappointed at the loss of a lot of good, progressive MPs. They will be sadly missed.…
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E-Day: Let’s set a record
Dear friends: Well, this is it. Interest in the federal election is at a fever pitch across Canada. Last week, a whopping 3.6 million Canadians voted at advance polls. That’s a 71 per cent increase compared to the last election! I have to say I’m not surprised. Everywhere I go, I’m getting the same feeling:…
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OPSEU Voters’ Guide 2015
The following overview of the election platforms of the three parties that hold federal seats in Ontario is intended for OPSEU members who want more information before Election Day, October 19. Please be aware that the party platforms are much more detailed. To find out more, click on the links in each section or read…
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Harper’s “TPP” leaves Canada out in the cold
Dear friends: Winter is coming. As Canadians, we all know what that means. We’ve built our northern country by knowing how to survive in a harsh, unforgiving climate. Staying alive means staying warm. It doesn’t mean saying inside, though. It means putting on your parka and going to work in the cold. At one time,…
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Happy Franco-Ontarian Day!
Dear friends: It’s my special pleasure to send warm greetings to all our francophone and francophile members on this sixth Franco-Ontarian Day. It was on September 25, 1975, that the Franco-Ontarian flag was raised for the first time. So in addition to celebrating Franco-Ontarians, we celebrate the 40th anniversary of their distinctive banner, which proudly…
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Message to progressive Canadians: the Liberals aren’t
Dear friends: I won’t be voting Liberal on October 19. With Election Day coming fast, the two-thirds of Canadians who don’t want Stephen Harper as Prime Minister are mulling their options. For many of these voters, the ballot-box question is this: Who is the “progressive” choice? Justin Trudeau’s Liberals, or Tom Mulcair’s New Democrats? Trudeau…
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Register opposition to Hydro One sellout at the ballot box: OPSEU
TORONTO – Ontarians opposed to the privatization of Hydro One, the provincial electricity transmission company, can make their opposition felt by not voting Liberal in the October 19 federal election, the president of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union says. “With the latest Environics poll showing that 83 per cent of Ontarians oppose what the…
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14th Annual Joint Leadership Day: “Measuring Equity – Are We There Yet?”
Hosted by the Equity Chairs, the 14th Annual Joint Leadership Day brought together leaders from all walks of the working lives that OPSEU represents. The day was designed to help integrate equity issues into all aspects of OPSEU's work. This year, the theme was "measuring equity – are we there yet?" and evaluated the effectiveness…
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International Year for People of African Descent and Black History Month
Dear friends: The United Nations has designated 2011 the International Year for People of African Descent and February, of course, is Black History Month. In making its announcement, the UN challenges governments and the international community to “redouble efforts to fight racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance that affect African descendents in all parts…
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Acting on OPSEU’s Action Plan – A Report from Convention 2012
With Convention 2012 behind us it’s time to hit the ground running. There is no time for rest and recreation with all the challenges around us. So what must we now do to forge ahead? Delegates at Convention 2012 provided the answer with approval of an action plan. This plan will bring together the many…
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Let’s get our message out loud and clear: #DontVote!
So here’s what OPSEU is telling young people today: Don’t Vote. You may think a message of #DontVote makes no sense at election time, but there is method in our madness. Let me explain. In his August President’s Message, Smokey lamented that so many Canadians, and particularly young people, don’t bother to vote. I find…