OPSEU/SEFPO

OPSEU/SEFPO, NUPGE, and BloodWatch.org Call for Canadian Blood Services CEO to resign in wake of plasma privatization deal

Ottawa – The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/SEFPO), the National Union for Public and General Employees (NUPGE), and BloodWatch.org are raising the alarm on secret plans to privatize plasma collection in Canada. The organizations held a protest today outside Canadian Blood Services (CBS) headquarters to demand the resignation of its CEO and Board Chair, in…

December 1, 2022

CBS info picket to stop plasma privatization – Dec 1, Ottawa

Together with representatives from NUPGE, Bloodwatch.org, CUPE, and the Canadian Health Coalition, the Sector 19 (Canadian Blood Services and Diagnostics) Divisional Executive will hold an information picket outside the CBS head office in Ottawa on December 1. The picket will protest an agreement that CBS has signed with a for-profit, multinational pharmaceutical company (Grifols) to…

November 25, 2022

Fighting Privatization, Solidarity

Immediate solutions to hospital crisis lie in public system, not private: OPSEU/SEFPO Hospital Professionals

TORONTO – Hospital professionals represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/SEFPO) are calling for the Ford government to take immediate action on the hospital staffing crisis by looking at solutions from within the public hospital system, rather than siphon resources to private clinics and for-profit corporations. Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/SEFPO) First…

Andy Pedersen

November 2, 2022

Glenora ferry info picket connects dots between understaffing and low pay

Following an information picket and leafleting event at the Glenora Ferry on October 14, OPSEU/SEFPO Local 428 President Jody Pringle explained to 99.3 County FM (CJPE) how the reduction in ferry schedules is caused by low wages and understaffing. Click here to read the article and listen to the interview. Quotes from Local 428 President…

Andy Pedersen

October 27, 2022

Fighting Privatization, OPSEU in the News, Public Service Heroes

Staffing crisis on Wolfe Island Ferry leads to several hours’ shut-down

The Wolfe Island Ferry was shut down for several hours on Sunday, October 16 due to staff shortages – two days after ferry workers from Glenora and Wolfe Island ferries leafletted passengers at both Glenora Ferry docks about the staffing crisis. CTV News interviewed OPSEU/SEFPO Local 428 Vice President Lee MacLaren, who explained why there…

Andy Pedersen

October 20, 2022

Fighting Privatization, OPSEU in the News

MTO ferry workers picket Wolfe Island dock to draw attention to understaffing

Wolfe Island and Glenora ferry workers from OPSEU/SEFPO Local 428 got lots of support from Kingston and Wolfe Island residents as they picketed and handed out leaflets about the ferry staffing crisis at the Wolfe Island ferry dock on Friday, Oct. 7. The information picket was covered by both The Kingston Whig Standard and The…

Andy Pedersen

October 13, 2022

Fighting Privatization, OPSEU in the News, Public Service Heroes

Fix our Ferries: Info picket at Glenora Ferry – Oct. 14

Click here to download “Fix our Ferries” flyer (PDF) Wolfe Island and Glenora ferry workers from OPSEU/SEFPO Local 428, and labour allies will hold an information picket at both docks of the Glenora Ferry (in Adolphustown and Glenora, Ontario) to call for an end to the service disruptions and cancellations caused by understaffing. DATE: Friday,…

Andy Pedersen

October 5, 2022

Bargaining, Campaign, Campaigns

Fighting Privatization, Job cuts

Fix our Ferries: Info picket at Wolfe Island Ferry – Oct. 7

Click here to download “Fix our Ferries” flyer (PDF) Wolfe Island and Glenora ferry workers from OPSEU/SEFPO Local 428, and labour allies will hold an information picket at the Wolfe Island ferry dock in Kingston, Ontario to call for an end to the service disruptions and cancellations caused by understaffing. DATE: Friday, October 7, 2022…

Andy Pedersen

October 5, 2022

Bargaining, Campaign, Campaigns

Fighting Privatization, Job cuts

OPSEU/SEFPO leaders warn Minister of Health: We’re organizing against privatization

President JP Hornick, First Vice-President/Treasurer Laurie Nancekivell and every sector chair of OPSEU/SEFPO’s seven health care divisions have written to Minister of Health Sylvia Jones, warning her that our union will be fighting the Ford government’s health care privatization scheme announced this week, every step of the way. Here is the letter they sent: August…

August 19, 2022

Fighting Privatization, Job cuts

Video: Social services minister avoids NDP question about privatized mail sorting at ODSP

Children, Community and Social Services Minister Merrilee Fullerton avoided the question and changed the subject when asked in Question Period to end privatized mail sorting in the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), which has led to delayed and suspended ODSP benefits for vulnerable clients. NDP MPP Lise Vaugeois demanded that the Minister stop contracting out…

Andy Pedersen

August 17, 2022

Bargaining, Campaigns

For-profit mail sorting delays harm ODSP clients: OPSEU/SEFPO

TORONTO – The contracting-out of mail sorting in the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) to a for-profit company has created chaos for ODSP clients and staff, resulting in delayed benefits and unwarranted benefit suspensions and holds. In 2018, the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS) hired a for-profit vendor named Nimble to sort…

Andy Pedersen

August 17, 2022

Ontario Health Coalition news conference livestream on health care privatization: August 16

Update: The date has been changed to August 16th. The Ontario Health Coalition (OHC) is inviting media to a news conference sounding the alarm on the Ford government’s plans to privatize health care in Ontario. All OHC members and supporters are invited to join the Facebook livestream at 10:30 a.m. on the OHC Facebook page.…

Andy Pedersen

August 12, 2022

Bargaining, Campaigns

Federal, Fighting Privatization

For-profit plasma dangerous to Canadian blood supply chain, warns Hornick

There is no place for private, for-profit companies in the Canadian blood supply chain, President JP Hornick writes in a letter to the CEO of Canadian Blood Services, co-signed by Geoff Cain, Chair of OPSEU/SEFPO’s CBS & Diagnostics sector. Canadian Blood Services should focus on stepping up the expansion of their domestic blood collection program…

Andy Pedersen

July 19, 2022

Bargaining, Campaigns

Health professionals warn about province’s plan for private hospitals

This year marks the 60th anniversary of Canada’s most beloved social program – Medicare. Over the past two years, Canadians have seen first-hand just how important our public, not-for-profit health care system is. But, the pandemic has also exposed the cracks caused by 25 years of austerity and cuts. While the calls to rebuild capacity in…

February 24, 2022

Ontario follows OPSEU/SEFPO’s advice by returning to proactive long-term care inspections

Toronto – OPSEU/SEFPO President Warren (Smokey) Thomas says an overhaul of inspections for long-term care is great news and shows that the government is hearing the concerns of front-line workers and tapping into their expertise. Thomas says today’s announcement to double the number of long-term care home inspectors and implement a new inspections program is…

October 26, 2021

OPSEU/SEFPO to government tribunal – alcohol in 7-Elevens is a ‘dangerous, slippery slope’

Toronto – OPSEU/SEFPO President Warren (Smokey) Thomas is urging a government tribunal to stop 7-Eleven’s bid to sell alcohol because of the damage it would do to our children, our communities, our small businesses, and our public services. “Selling alcohol at 7-Eleven is a dangerous and slippery slope,” said Thomas during a case conference hosted…

September 23, 2021

Campaigns, Media

Invited to a 7-Eleven meeting? OPSEU/SEFPO is here to help!

Thanks to OPSEU/SEFPO members’ strong opposition to 7-Eleven’s scheme to sell alcohol for consumption in more than 60 convenience stores across the province, a government tribunal is now involved. Some OPSEU/SEFPO members who filed formal objections with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) about 7-Eleven are now being invited by the Licence Appeal…

September 17, 2021

Rejecting private expansion and supporting the LCBO

OPSEU/SEFPO President Warren (Smokey) Thomas sent the following letter to Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance calling for him to support the LCBO by rejecting lobbyists’ efforts to push for private expansion. July 13, 2021 Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy Minister of Finance 99 Wellesley St. W, Room 4320 Toronto, ON M7A 1W3 Re: rejecting private expansion and supporting…

July 13, 2021

Opting in to a public cannabis retail option for Ontario’s municipalities

The following letter was sent to Mississauga City Council by OPSEU/SEFPO President Warren (Smokey) Thomas, in response to the City Council’s decision to opt out of private cannabis retail. Download the letter. Mississauga City Council Mississauga Civic Centre 300 City Centre Drive Mississauga, ON L5B 3C1 Re: Opting in to a public cannabis retail option…

July 12, 2021