Tag: OPSEU in the News

• OPSEU takes service and clerical workers, loses nurses at Providence Care vote (CKWS TV)

  Two sets of hospital workers voted this week to choose which union will represent them — once they merge at Providence Care’s new hospital. For service and clerical workers, currently represented by LiUNA at St. Mary’s of the Lake, and OPSEU at the Mental Health Services Site, the vote determined that OPSEU will represent those…

  April 22, 2016

  Bargaining, Campaigns, Media

  OPSEU in the News

• Wynne’s decisions driving down women’s wages in Ontario

  In a guest column in the Toronto Sun, OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas urges the premier to take action now and stop driving the gender wage gap wider in the public sector by cutting women’s wages. Read the full column in the Toronto Sun.

  Andy Pedersen

  April 20, 2016

  Campaigns, Media

  Gender Wage Gap, OPSEU in the News, Pay equity

• Staff protest working conditions at Waypoint

  Staff at Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care are sounding alarm bells about safety, saying they regularly face danger in their jobs and management has not done much to help. Pete Sheehan, president of Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) Local 329, said the “policies and procedures of Waypoint management are putting people in danger.”…

  Andy Pedersen

  April 13, 2016

  Bargaining, Campaigns, Events, Media

  OPSEU in the News, Stay Safe

• Charges laid in Waypoint stabbing (Orillia Packet and Times)

  Charges have been laid following an assault at Waypoint Mental Health Centre in Penetanguishene last week. OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas said a nurse suffered wounds to his back along with a broken nose and jaw after trying to help another nurse after she had been stabbed during the attack. Members of OPSEU plan to…

  Andy Pedersen

  April 12, 2016

  Bargaining, Campaigns, Media

  OPSEU in the News, Stay Safe

• Ontario’s Waypoint hospital is unsafe (Toronto Sun)

  There are clearly huge safety and security problems at the Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care in Penetanguishene, particularly in its $474-million Atrium building, which has housed the most dangerous patients since it opened in May, 2014. Read the full article in the Toronto Sun. Related: OPSEU in the News

  Andy Pedersen

  April 11, 2016

  Bargaining, Campaigns, Health and Safety, Media

  OPSEU in the News, Stay Safe

• Ontario recognizes PTSD as work-related for first responders (Toronto Star)

  Police, firefighters and paramedics with post-traumatic stress disorder will no longer have to prove it was caused by tragedies they handled on the job, erasing a major roadblock to prompt treatment. MPPs from all parties unanimously passed a law last Tuesday recognizing the disorder as a work-related illness, which advocates hope will ease a spate of suicides among…

  April 10, 2016

  Bargaining, Campaigns, Health and Safety, Media

  OPSEU in the News

• OCDC inmate calling for expansion (CTV)

  An inmate at the Ottawa Carleton Detention Centre (OCDC) says inmates at the facility have to beg for toilet paper and are denied proper medical treatment. OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas has called on Correctional Services Minister Yasir Naqvi to resign and says he wants the provincial government to let the media into the jail…

  April 7, 2016

  Bargaining, Campaigns, Media

  Crisis in Corrections, OPSEU in the News

• Screwdriver stabbing at max-security psych hospital (Toronto Sun)

  Nurses at Ontario’s all-male maximum-security psychiatric hospital in Penetanguishene warned the Sun back in September they fear for their lives. A brutal double-screwdriver stabbing Tuesday evening showed, once again, why. Read the full article in The Toronto Sun.

  Andy Pedersen

  April 7, 2016

  Bargaining, Campaigns, Media

  OPSEU in the News, Stay Safe

• Ontario needs its own Charbonneau Commission (Toronto Sun)

  In a guest column published in today's Toronto Sun, OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas calls on Premier Wynne to launch an independent investigation after news last week of the Ontario Liberals’ fundraising quota scheme. Read the full guest column here.     

  April 6, 2016

  Campaigns, Media

  Fighting Privatization, OPSEU in the News

• Naqvi should resign over ‘inept’ handling of Ottawa jail (Ottawa Citizen)

  OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas is calling on Corrections Minister Yasir Naqvi to resign over his “inept” handling of Ottawa’s jail. Read the full article in the Ottawa Citizen. 

  April 6, 2016

  Bargaining, Campaigns, Media

  Crisis in Corrections, OPSEU in the News

• Jail scanners a ‘no-brainer’ (London Free Press)

  OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas toured the Elgin Middlesex Detention Centre in London, Ont. on Thursday. Click read the full article in the London Free Press.

  April 1, 2016

  Bargaining, Campaigns, Media

  Crisis in Corrections, OPSEU in the News

• Smokey Thomas on 1310 NEWS speaking about the Crisis in Corrections

  OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas was a guest on 1310 NEWS on Wednesday, discussing the Crisis in Corrections. Listen to the full interview here.

  March 30, 2016

  Bargaining, Campaigns, Media

  Crisis in Corrections, OPSEU in the News

• Naqvi scrubs shower cells but cleanup not over

  Correctional Services Minister Yasir Naqvi says he has put an end to the “absolutely appalling” practice of squeezing inmates into shower cells at the Innes Road jail, but correctional officers say he’s still facing a “full-blown crisis” when it comes to overcrowding. Read the full Ottawa Citizen article. Related: Crisis In Corrections index page

  March 29, 2016

  Bargaining, Campaigns, Media

  Crisis in Corrections, OPSEU in the News

• Smokey Thomas on 580 CFRA discussing OCDC

  OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas was a guest on 580 CFRA discussing the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre (OCDC). Listen to the full interview with host Bill Carroll.  

  March 29, 2016

  Bargaining, Campaigns, Media

  Crisis in Corrections, OPSEU in the News

• Province to hire 2000 corrections staff (CTV)

  OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas says he is "relieved" the government is finally doing something to ease issues at jails across the province. Click to read the full article on CTV News. Related: OPSEU in the News

  March 22, 2016

  Bargaining, Campaigns, Media

  Crisis in Corrections, OPSEU in the News

• OPSEU President on AM 580 CFRA discussing the province’s announcement of 2,000 new correctional officers

  OPSEU President  Warren (Smokey) Thomas was a guest on News & Views with Rob Snow on AM 580 CFRA, discussing the province's hiring announcement of 2,000 new correctional officers.  Click on the link below to listen to the full interview.      Related: OPSEU in the News

  March 21, 2016

  Bargaining, Campaigns, Media

  Crisis in Corrections, OPSEU in the News

• Private vs. Public: Battle for Ontario’s health-care system (CBC Radio Canada International)

  Recently, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) has been calling for increased privatization in the health care system and now plans a major year-long campaign to promote the idea. OPSEU President, Warren (Smokey) Thomas was a guest on CBC Radio Canada International with host Marc Montgomery to discuss the privatization trend.  Listen to the full interview on CBC Radio Canada…

  March 17, 2016

  Campaigns, Media

  Fighting Privatization, OPSEU in the News

• OPSEU: “Bring care back to regional hospitals” (CP24)

  OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas, was a guest on CP24's Live at Noon with host Stephen LeDrew, discussing the privatization of health care. Click to watch the full interview. Related: OPSEU in the News

  March 16, 2016

  Campaigns, Media

  Fighting Privatization, OPSEU in the News

• OPSEU signs up St. Mary’s radiation technologists (Waterloo Region Record)

  Medical radiation technologists who work at St. Mary's General Hospital are joining a union to bargain for their first collective agreement. Almost 90 employees will become members of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union. Employees typically work in diagnostic imaging, for example X-rays, mammography and ultrasound.  Click to read the full article in the Waterloo Region…

  March 14, 2016

  Campaigns, Media

  Certifications, OPSEU in the News

• Local 604 president champions compensation for miners

  OPSEU Local 604 President Janice Martell is leading the quest to have Timmins-area miners compensated for neurodegenerative diseases she believes were caused by McIntyre Powder. From 1943 till 1979, the aluminum powder was used to protect miners from silica dust. It was believed that inhaling it would give the lungs a protective coating. The practice…

  March 11, 2016

  Media

  OPSEU in the News