Tag: Solidarity
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Thomas pledges OPSEU’s support to Unifor’s locked-out refinery workers
During a rally in Regina for locked out Unifor Local 594 members who work at the Co-op Refinery, OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas pledged the support of OPSEU’s 165,000 members. “This is one of the most egregious acts of greed I have ever seen,” said Thomas. “OPSEU has a longstanding friendship with Unifor. And whenever…
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Offer to pay off parents a new low for Ford Government
It’s pathetic that the Ford government is resorting to bribery to try to get support from parents in its botched handling of contract talks with teachers, said OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas. Education Minister Stephen Lecce’s announcement that parents will get $60 a day to pay for supports like childcare during a potential strike is…
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OPSEU stands shoulder-to-shoulder with education workers
OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas and other LABOUR leaders stood united this weekend in their support of education workers. They joined together at Unifor’s Ontario Regional Council (ORC), held December 6-7 in Toronto. Thomas, Unifor National President Jerry Dias, OSSTF President Harvey Bischof, EFTO President Sam Hammond and OECTA President Liz Stuart said they stand…
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Celebrating World AIDS Day
December 1 is World AIDS Day and OPSEU is gathering with families, friends, and lovers who remember those whom they have lost to HIV/AIDS. In their memory, we support the Stephen Lewis Foundation in ensuring that resources are delivered to the grassroots organizations that are turning the tide of HIV/AIDS, especially in Africa. This is in…
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Congratulations to the Ontario Federation of Labour’s new president
Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) secretary-treasurer Patty Coates was elected president on Tuesday at the OFL’s Convention. We would like to personally congratulate Patty on being elected to the top post. She is dedicated and passionate on fighting for workers’ rights. We know she will serve us well in her new position. OPSEU members should…
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OPSEU members led many OFL rallies to welcome Ford back
OPSEU members helped mark the Ford government’s return to work Monday after a five-month break by leading and participating in Ontario Federation of Labour rallies in communities across the province. OPSEU members took part in a unique march in Toronto that circled Queen’s Park for hours, earning lots of public and media attention. The action…
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OPSEU stands in solidarity with youth climate strikers
We admire the dedication of young people who are taking part in the September 20 Global Climate Strike Day. It kicks off a week of action as people take to the streets to demand environmental justice in Canada and beyond. We’re pleased to see so many young people joining the fight for a healthy and…
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Shining a spotlight on pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong
“We call on the Government of China to immediately withdraw troops from the border with Hong Kong, and to respect the rights of the people of Hong Kong,” asserts OPSEU President Warren “Smokey” Thomas. “This is not simply a case of one group exploiting their own. The protesters in Hong Kong sent a clear message…
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Call For Indigenous Solidarity Tour to Guatemala
The OPSEU Indigenous Circle has partnered with Horizons of Friendship for an Indigenous knowledge exchange to Guatemala on February 7-17, 2020 as part of their Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health: Transforming Indigenous Lives (MNCH) project. In February 2017, Region 7 member Geri Kakeeway met with Mayan partners during a trip to Guatemala. Subsequent to the…
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Open letter from President Thomas to Jerry Dias, national president of Unifor, re Oshawa’s GM plant
The following letter was written by Warren (Smokey) Thomas, President of OPSEU, to Jerry Dias, national president of Unifor, in response to the announcement that GM Canada will transition its plant in Oshawa from manufacturing vehicles to stamping, sub-assembly and autonomous vehicle testing. May 9, 2018 Dear Brother Dias, I want to congratulate you for…
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Open letter from President Thomas to the local representing Rainforest Café workers
The following letter was written by Warren (Smokey) Thomas, President of OPSEU, to Mike Ward, union representative for Workers United Canada Council Local 2347, which represents the workers at Rainforest Café, owned by Canadian Niagara Hotels. The workers have been on strike since April 9. Among their demands are a sexual harassment policy that takes…
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OPSEU, OFL to pressure Conservative backbenchers
OPSEU has joined with Ontario’s other democratic unions in a bid to stop the provincial government’s cuts and privatizations by putting pressure on backbench Conservative MPPs, according to CBC Toronto. OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas tells CBC that while Premier Doug Ford “doesn’t seem to care” about protests, “his backbenchers will care.” “In my union,…
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Islamophobia breeds fear – but it also has an economic cost
Hassan Yussuff, president of the Canadian Labour Congress, of which OPSEU is an affiliate, wrote the following op-ed for the Globe and Mail, which was published on March 21, 2019. The tragic news out of New Zealand has shocked most of us. But it shouldn’t have. Many of us have seen the anti-Muslim memes, heard…
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OPSEU has a long track record defending human rights and promoting equity
We are aware of a lawsuit that has been launched against the Ontario government and two other unions alleging systemic racism and discrimination in the Ontario Public Service. OPSEU is not involved in the litigation but we are deeply concerned about discrimination and racism in any form. We were the first trade union to support…