Tag: Newsletter
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Lock Talk #24 – Arbitration Award Implementation Update
Since the arbitration award was released on December 4, 2023, for the Correctional Bargaining Unit, the Employer and Union have met three times to discuss implementation of the award. A further meeting is scheduled for February 13, 2024. Here is a brief update on the status of various aspects of the implementation of the award.…
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inSolidarity: Winter 2023 edition
inSolidarity is a member-produced magazine that covers our stories, our work, and most importantly, our collective victories. Enjoy this online edition!
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Celebrating increased inclusion on December 3rd – International Day of Persons with Disabilities
On December 3rd, International Day of Persons with Disabilities, global citizens can celebrate two major achievements, in Canada and Colombia, to remove barriers for persons with disabilities. Canada has established the Canada Disability Benefit, and in Colombia, lawyer Jeison Aristizábal opened the first university for young people with disabilities. The Canada Disability Benefit, or Bill…
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Igniting Solidarity: Reflections on the Ontario Federation of Labour 17th Biennial Convention (with photos)
Report by Lorinda Seward, inSolidarity Committee As the Ontario Federation of Labour’s (OFL) 17th Biennial Convention came to a close, the echoes of unity and determination resonated through the convention floor at The Sheraton in downtown Toronto. Held from November 20 to 24, 2023, this five-day event brought together delegates from union affiliates from across…
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LockTalk #21: Arbitration hearing complete – awaiting a decision
On November 25, 2023, OPSEU/SEFPO’s Correctional Bargaining Team and the employer held the arbitration session with arbitrator William Kaplan. In addition to the previously submitted written briefs, the parties presented their oral arguments on their positions. The arbitrator had no further questions after the oral presentations and concluded the hearing. We are waiting for the…
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LockTalk 20: Arbitration approaches
November 3, 2023, was the date Arbitrator Kaplan directed the Parties to exchange reply briefs. We are able to confirm that we exchanged briefs with the Employer as directed. Although we are not able to share the full briefs at this time, due to the constraints of the arbitration process, we remain committed to sharing…
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LockTalk #19: Employer – why the wait?
As part of the final binding arbitration process, the due date for the exchange of arbitration briefs between the Employer and Union was this past Monday, October 2. We can confirm that the briefs were exchanged by the parties, as directed by Arbitrator Kaplan. Arbitration dates have been confirmed for November 25 and 26. Your…
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Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and Ministry of Indigenous Affairs MERC Minutes
In attendance: For OPSEU: *Bierman (Co-Chair) Jeremy (Jake) Rouse Jessica O’Donnell Jeremy Verdiel Kathleen Demareski, OPS Negotiator For the Employer: Donna Walton (Co-Chair) Laura Aitchison Carly Jones (Minutes) Brian Locke Stephanie Maragna Administrative Items: Approval of Agenda Agenda was approved. Standing Items: 1. Strategic Planning Process (SPP) Disclosure The Employer advised that there are…
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Ministry of Finance Minutes of Ministry Employee Relations Committee (MERC)
For the Union Shanika Duncan (Co-Chair) ** Julieta Losson (Member) Glenna Caldwell (OPS negotiator, OPSEU/SEFPO) Dave Bissoon (Vice-Chair) For the Ministry Heather Bowie (Co-Chair) Nadia Williams (Member) Bonnie Lutes (Member) Claudine Sutherland (Assistant HR Business Advisor) Jessica Medrano (Employee Relations – Resource) Alissa Byers (Employee Relations – Resource) Melisa Arias Montes (HR Business Advisor) Regrets…
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CAAT-S FT Bargaining Update: Full-time College Support staff achieve 9.5% pay increase!
A step towards easing cost of living stresses, but still a long road ahead. PDF version Dear OPSEU/SEFPO full time college support staff, Your Bargaining Team successfully negotiated a 9.5% pay increase with the College Employer Council (CEC) and we’re writing to you with the details of this settlement. As you know, Bill 124 –…
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Autumn View – 2023 Summer Edition
PDF version of Autumn View – Summer 2023 A Message from the Chair Food banks were always thought of the very last resort for the very poorest members of our society, but currently circumstances have changed to such a degree that in 2022 skyrocketing food bank use increased by 64% for first time visitors. About…
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inSolidarity: Summer 2023 edition
inSolidarity is a member-produced magazine that covers our stories, our work, and most importantly, our collective victories. Enjoy this online edition!
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LockTalk #18: We demand respect.
The Correctional Bargaining Team thanks all locals across the province for participating in the first phase of the Respect Corrections campaign. We were able to show that we remain united in all reaches of the province against the Employer. For those who missed the news release, you can read it here. You can also read…
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LockTalk #17: Calling out the employer’s disrespectful delay tactics in bargaining
Tomorrow (July 25), the Correctional Bargaining Team is asking all members to join the first phase of the Respect Corrections campaign by wearing a sticker with the word “Respect” during their shift. We encourage all members to find a member of their local union executive to get a respect sticker, or to print off a…
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Disability Rights Caucus Participates in the Disability Pride March on July 15, 2023
The 12th annual Disability Pride March took place on July 15, 2023. It served as a platform for individuals with disabilities, their families, and advocates to come together and advocate for equal rights, accessibility, and inclusion. More text below. Disability Pride March started out of the Occupy Toronto in October 2011. It is an intentional…
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LockTalk #16: Arbitration – What’s happened and what’s next
LockTalk #15 came out on July 11th announcing the employer’s delay to arbitration. We know this had a profound impact on the membership of the Correctional Bargaining Unit. The employer’s continued actions at the bargaining table are shameful. They keep spewing memos about how they care about employees and are building a “people-centred workforce”, yet…
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LockTalk #15: Déjà-vu – Employer shows up unprepared
On July 10, 2023, the Correctional Bargaining Team met with the employer at their request to engage in a further mediation session with Mediator/Arbitrator Bill Kaplan. Despite making this request, the employer came to the table with ZERO proposals. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. As a result, mediation talks broke down almost immediately. On top of that,…
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OPS Unified Wage Reopener: Let’s talk about what happened on June 10th.
On June 10th, our employer came to the wage reopener bargaining table without a proposal – they did not even have permission to talk about wages, or anything else for that matter! The costs to taxpayers for that weekend – legal fees, expenses, mediator fees, venue costs, wages, etc., is estimated to be tens of…
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Convention Day 3: inSolidarity update
Convention 2023 picketed by children Day 3 of Convention was “disrupted” by possibly the most adorable picket line ever. The children of Convention attendees paraded the Convention floor with picket signs created at the child care service provided by Convention. …
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To The Point: Sector 19 Newsletter May 2023
To The Point: May 2023 OPSEU/SEFPO Sector 19 Newsletter Download a printable PDF version here. Greetings Sector 19 members! Message from Sector Chair – Geoff Cain Kat Lanteigne, CEO of BloodWatch, along with your sector chair and OPSEU/SEFPO staff met with a number of Conservative MPPs at Queen’s Park to tell them that Canadian veins…