Tag: OPSEU in the News

• Respiratory therapist from OPSEU Local 575 describes life on the front lines

  In a Toronto Life article published on April 19, Jen Rajkumar, a respiratory therapist from OPSEU Local 575, describes what life is like for health care workers on the front lines during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read the full story here.

  April 20, 2020

  Health and Safety, Media

  COVID-19, OPSEU in the News

• OPSEU Local 253 members help group home get through COVID-19 outbreak

  CBC News is reporting that OPSEU members from Elmira District Community Living are being described as heroes following a COVID-19 outbreak at a group home in that community. “We have a lot of heroes in our organization, let me tell you,” CEO Greg Bechard told the CBC. “I’m very proud of our employees and how they…

  Andy Pedersen

  April 16, 2020

  Bargaining, Campaigns, Health and Safety, Media

  COVID-19, OPSEU in the News

• OPSEU persuades LCBO to install plexiglass shields

  The Toronto Sun and Newstalk1010 are reporting on OPSEU’s success persuading the LCBO to take more steps to protect workers and customers against COVID-19. “If the LCBO is going to stay open, it must put in place any and all measures necessary to keep workers and the public safe,” The Sun quotes OPSEU President Warren…

  March 29, 2020

  Bargaining, Campaigns, Health and Safety, Media

  COVID-19, OPSEU in the News

• OPSEU urges ‘active’ screening at jails

  The Toronto Sun reports that the chair of OPSEU’s Corrections Division is demanding better screening at jail entrances after three staff members tested positive for COVID-19. “One of the things that we need to have is active screening for all employees, all visitors and all inmates. If it is occurring, it’s occurring piecemeal,” Chris Jackel…

  March 23, 2020

  Bargaining, Campaigns, Health and Safety, Media

  COVID-19, OPSEU in the News

• OPSEU calling on province to discuss COVID-19 impact on jails

  OPSEU president Warren ‘Smokey’ Thomas is calling on provincial government officials and the chief medical officer of health to address COVID19 in Ontario jails. “They say it’s not a pandemic in the institutions yet,” says Thomas of corrections managers. “And we don’t want it to be.” Read the full article on CTV London’s website.

  March 23, 2020

  Bargaining, Campaigns, Health and Safety, Media

  COVID-19, OPSEU in the News

• LCBO to limit number of customers in stores

  The LCBO has announced new measures to protect the safety of workers in LCBO stores, including a limit of no more than 50 shoppers inside the store at any one time. The Toronto Sun quotes OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas as saying: “the new measures came down Wednesday morning in response to concerns about the…

  March 18, 2020

  Health and Safety, Media

  COVID-19, OPSEU in the News

• OPSEU President calls for ‘closure’ at Canadore College

  The president of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) is urging the College Employer Council to work with the union and Canadore College to bring “closure and healing to those who have suffered abuse” at the post-secondary institution. The union provided a statement Tuesday from Warren (Smokey) Thomas in which he repeats his call…

  March 4, 2020

  Bargaining, Campaigns, Equity and Human Rights, Health and Safety, Media

  OPSEU in the News

• Corrections Cares helps out with Out Of The Cold

  The volunteer efforts of OPSEU members Joy Wallace and Adele Whaul, who are Probation and Parole Officers, are the focus of an article in Beach Metro Community News about the union’s annual Corrections Cares campaign. “We assist people with accessing services like Out of the Cold when they come to our office,” said Wallace, who…

  February 28, 2020

  Bargaining, Campaigns, Media

  Crisis in Corrections, OPSEU in the News, Solidarity

• Waypoint workers ‘fearing for their lives’

  In an in-depth report, The Midland Mirror spells out the terrible consequences of the dangerous conditions that OPSEU members face working at the Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care. “You can’t drag somebody out of their room, fight them, jab a needle in them, and then try and provide passionate nursing care the next day,”…

  February 27, 2020

  Bargaining, Campaigns, Health and Safety, Media

  OPSEU in the News, PTSD, Stay Safe

• Ford hires U.S. firm to push Ontarians off welfare: Star publishes OPSEU opinion piece

  The Toronto Star has published an Op-ed by OPSEU President Warren (Smoke) Thomas in which he questions the judgement of Ontario Premier Doug Ford for hiring a foreign company to handle a for-profit welfare program. ” All this does is create wealth for a foreign interest. It creates no benefit for people who get social…

  Andy Pedersen

  February 25, 2020

  Bargaining, Campaigns, Media

  OPSEU in the News

• Canadore’s refusal to release report a ‘cover up’ – OPSEU president charges

  Media across northern Ontario are reporting on OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas’s demand that Canadore College release a report looking into allegations of bullying, harassment and intimidation by senior staff. “The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) is accusing Canadore College of engaging in an ‘attempted cover up,” reports The North Bay Nugget. “The union…

  February 20, 2020

  Health and Safety, Media

  OPSEU in the News

• North Bay media report on Thomas’s letter to Canadore College

  Media in North Bay are covering OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas’s demand that Canadore College show him a copy of an investigator’s upcoming report on harassment at the college. “In a letter to board chairman Bob Nicholls, posted to the union’s website Wednesday, OPSEU president Warren (Smokey) Thomas states that the third-party investigator hired by…

  February 12, 2020

  Health and Safety, Media

  OPSEU in the News

• OPSEU calls for better protection of MTO enforcement officers

  Thunder Bay’s TBnewswatch.com is reporting on OPSEU’s demand that the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO) do more to protect its enforcement officers who pull over drivers for inspections. The call comes on the heels of an incident earlier this month when officers received the all-clear following a stop only to learn later that a…

  Andy Pedersen

  January 30, 2020

  Bargaining, Campaigns, Media

  OPSEU in the News

• Thomas in Ottawa Citizen: education workers deserve better

  In an op-ed in The Ottawa Citizen, OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas demands that the Ford government abandon Bill 124 and instead invest properly in our schools so that educational assistants – and all education workers – can give kids the support they deserve. “EAs – like hundreds of thousands of other public sector workers…

  January 22, 2020

  Bargaining, Campaigns, Media

  Affiliates, OPSEU in the News, Solidarity

• OPSEU supports the Northern Autism Families Matter Coalition

  CBC and Country 105 in Thunder Bay are reporting on a protest from the Northern Autism Families Matter Coalition who gathered outside a scheduled chamber of commerce appearance by Kenora-Rainy River MPP, Greg Rickford in Thunder Bay today. The protesters are seeking a face-to-face meeting with Rickford and Premier Doug Ford to talk about funding…

  Andy Pedersen

  November 8, 2019

  Events, Media

  Member Education, OPSEU in the News

• Union warns of legal challenge to pay cap bill

  The Toronto Sun is reporting on OPSEU First Vice-President/Treasurer Eduardo (Eddy) Almeida’s demand that the government abandon Bill 124 — which seeks to limit public sector wage increases to one per cent a year for three years — because it’s a clear violation of members’ constitutional right to free and fair collective bargaining. “Like his…

  November 4, 2019

  Bargaining, Media

  OPSEU in the News

• New OPSEU members make the news

  The North Bay Nugget is reporting that OPSEU is welcoming frontline workers from the Canadian Mental Health Association (CHMA) Nipissing branch. The employees voted to unionize earlier in October and OPSEU was their union of choice. The 50 employees are joining OPSEU as they amalgamate with the Nipissing Mental Health Housing & Support Services so…

  Andy Pedersen

  October 29, 2019

  Media

  OPSEU in the News

• OPSEU seeks information on reported job cuts in Orangeville

  The Orangeville Banner is reporting that information stating there will be layoffs at the Headwaters Health Care Centre is inaccurate. Read the whole story here.

  Andy Pedersen

  October 24, 2019

  Campaigns, Media

  Job cuts, OPSEU in the News

• OPSEU Local 133 hosts London bbq during Mental Health Awareness Week

  OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas spoke at a barbecue in London hosted by Local 133 to raise awareness of mental health and addictions issues in the London area. “We’ve had 30, 40 people come up,” said Thomas. “They’re eating for free, because they’re homeless. So we’ve had a chance to chat with them and hear…

  October 10, 2019

  Events, Media

  Awareness Days, OPSEU in the News, Provincial

• OPSEU leads rally in support of CUPE educational workers

  During the tense countdown CUPE’s school strike over the weekend, CBC News reported on the large number of OPSEU members and leaders rallying in support of educational workers. “We represent education workers as well .… Not only are we out in solidarity and support, but what happens with CUPE certainly would have a profound impact…

  October 7, 2019

  Bargaining, Media

  OPSEU in the News, Solidarity, Strike