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ImpacT • May 3, 2012 • Page 1 Impac T News for OPSEU members at MPAC from your leadership team Volume 12, Issue 1 • May 3, 2012 Security upgrades at Milner: Up to the task? The installation of a seven-foot high, completely enclosed security turnstile at the Milner office is leaving many members wondering whether the employer has taken it far enough. Following an incident at the office, management there has spent countless thousands of dollars installing the barrier, which rivals the security entrances of most bank vaults. All of this was done without ever consulting the members in the workplace. But…are they really certain this is adequate? Sure, this is a non-public access building. Clients never visit there. In fact, the address of this building doesn’t even appear on any of MPAC’s public listings. Virtually the only people who know that Milner exists are the employees working there. But you can never be too careful. Rumour has it that additional entrance security will soon be put in place, and we have obtained a photo for proposed entrance reconstruction. We think it compliments the new ambiance nicely.

Transcript of 120503 impact final

Page 1: 120503 impact final

ImpacT • May 3, 2012 • Page 1

ImpacT News for OPSEU members at MPAC from your leadership team Volume 12, Issue 1 • May 3, 2012

Security upgrades at Milner: Up to the task?

The installation of a seven-foot high,

completely enclosed security turnstile at the

Milner of�ce is leaving many members

wondering whether the employer has taken

it far enough.

Following an incident at the of�ce,

management there has spent countless

thousands of dollars installing the barrier,

which rivals the security entrances of most

bank vaults. All of this was done without

ever consulting the members in the

workplace.

But…are they really certain this is

adequate?

Sure, this is a non-public access building.

Clients never visit there. In fact, the address

of this building doesn’t even appear on any

of MPAC’s public listings. Virtually the only

people who know that Milner exists are the

employees working there.

But you can never be too careful.

Rumour has it that additional entrance

security will soon be put in place, and we

have obtained a photo for proposed

entrance reconstruction.

We think it compliments the new

ambiance nicely.

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ImpacT • May 3, 2012 • Page 2

Soon we’ll be rolling back assessments!

Synergism!! It’s the new mantra at MPAC, and

management’s “Synergism Sessions” promise to lead us in bold, innovating directions never contemplated before. We are all virtually tingling at what this could produce for us.

Synergism is based on the word “synergy,” which means “the interaction of elements that when combined produce a total effect that is greater than the sum of the individual elements, contributions, etc.” This is heady stuff!

So imagine our delight at one of the �rst creations from the synergism sessions: the MPAC Vest!!

This 100-day pilot project at four of�ces will drape a blue, one-size-�ts-all smock over top of assessors, to make them “more visible” in the community. Complete with photo and “MPAC” lettering, our fearless assessors will spend additional time with clients, mostly trying to convince them they don’t work for Wal-Mart.

We plan to suggest to the employer that, to generate additional revenue, they could perhaps sell advertising on the vests to make them even snazzier. Heck – it works for NASCAR.

Since MPAC is so big on doing surveys, we are doing our own survey to get your

thoughts on the vests. Go to http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BV6FM72 and tell us how you feel.

On a �nal note, there is another de�nition of “synergy” that may better explain the vest project – “The cooperative action of two or more stimuli or drugs.” But we digress.

‘Jeans Day’ continues for charity

As part of MPAC’s United Way campaign, staff are allowed to wear jeans on Fridays and donate money for the privilege. MPAC has allowed this initiative to continue throughout the year, and each of�ce can choose a charity to donate the money to.

If you are looking for a worthy charity, Local 552 at 5255 Yonge Street is donating

their proceeds to “Design Points North”, a charity assisting the native community in Attawapiskat in Northern Ontario. OPSEU Head Of�ce also supports this charity.

For more information, contact Tina Faibish at the Yonge St. of�ce.

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ImpacT • May 3, 2012 • Page 3

Stay in touch! To ensure a speedy response to your questions, your leadership team has divided up all MPAC of�ces in

the province. If you have a question or a comment, please contact the team member responsible for your

of�ce. Contact us by e-mail at work or at home, as follows:

David Lynch, Chair: Bracebridge, London,

Mississauga, Ottawa, Barrie, Brockville, Cornwall,

Pembroke, Trenton, Bancroft & Kingston

E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

Peter McClenaghan, Vice Chair: St. Catharines,

Goderich, Chatham, Sarnia, Windsor, Kitchener &

Brantford

E-mail: [email protected] ;

[email protected]

Everett Kelly: Oshawa, Pickering, Richmond Hill,

Toronto & Peterborough

E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

David Fong: North Bay, Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie,

Timmins, Thunder Bay, Kenora, Fort Francis &

Dryden

E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

Steve Kovacs: Milner (CCC, CPF, LPU), Owen

Sound, Hamilton & Parry Sound

E-Mail: [email protected];

[email protected]

Mirla Alvarado-Fenn, OPSEU Staff Negotiator

E-mail: [email protected]

OPSEU ImpacT is produced by the Property Assessment Division of the Ontario Public Service

Employees Union and authorized for distribution by Warren (Smokey) Thomas, president.

Ontario Public Service Employees Union

100 Lesmill Road, Toronto, Ontario M3B 3P8 www.opseu.org

Verifying an “urban legend”? to the vests to prevent any re-occurrences

(or just plain occurrences) of this event.

Stories are circulating that the vest

project is the result of an unfortunate

incident that took place somewhere, at

some time.

Apparently an assessor from some of�ce,

somewhere, was knocking on a door to

conduct an assessment when he (or she)

was tackled from behind by police who

were in the middle of a drug sting operation.

The situation was only resolved when the

assessor (who will be eventually nominated

for this year’s “Bad Timing Award”)

identi�ed themself as a humble public

service worker and not a member of a local

cartel.

Hence, the need for the vests.

We are continuing to investigate when,

where and with who this situation occurred.

So far, we haven’t had much luck. But in the

meantime, we are suggesting a modi�cation