NOVEMBER 2012

OPS MOBILIZATIONREGION 5 (GTA)

Presentation #1 – OPSEU Audience: LECs, General Membership Groups & Individuals

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SHARING THE VISION

• 30 Minute Presentation with Q/A Session• Introductions with a little history on who “I” or “We” are• OPSEU Mobilization Structure Explained • OPSEU Bargaining Structure Explained• The Goal of the Two Bargaining Unit Teams? • Role of the OPSEU Member Mobilizer(s)• What’s the BUZZ in the Workplace? • How can YOU help the Mobilization and Bargaining

Campaigns?• Key background information to inform you

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INTRODUCTIONS - REGION 5OPS MOBILIZER(S)

• Who I am? Or, Who are We?

• How did we get engaged with the OPSEU OPS Mobilization team?

• Who else supports Region 5 – the Greater Toronto Area?

• What’s our role in the OPS Mobilization Campaign?

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OPSEU MOBILIZATION STRUCTURE

• OPSEU Mobilization Campaigns & Social Media• Megan Park – Senior Campaigns Officer• Jennie Miller – Social Media Coordinator (from Local

503)

• OPSEU Member Mobilizers for Region 5

• Central/Unified Corrections• Julius Arscott * Dan Marshall• Cindy Kraakman• June S. Morrison

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OPSEU BARGAINING STRUCTURE

• OPSEU – the Executive Board Members (EBMs)• President – Warren (Smokey) Thomas• 1st VP and Treasurer – Eduardo (Eddy) Almeida • 2nd VP – Nancy Pridham

• Two OPS Bargaining Teams1. Central/Unified Team• Roxanne Barnes (Chair) and Ron Langer (VP)• Edie Strachan (Region 5 Rep – President from Local 506)

2. Corrections Team• Dan Sidsworth (Chair) and Glenna Caldwell (VP)• Monte Vieselmeyer (Region 5 Rep – 1st VP from Local 517)

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THE GOAL OF THE TWO TEAMS?

•To get the best deal they can get for all our 38,000 members in the Ontario Public Service (OPS)!

• “Elected Bargaining Teams”- their roles explained and their relationship to Region 5 OPS Mobilizers

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THE PLAYING FIELD EXPLAINED

• Central/Unified Bargaining Team• Negotiates all central issues (e.g., job security and

benefits), and they negotiate all Bargaining Unit (BU) issues (e.g., wages, shift schedules and training) for the Unified category

• Unified Bargaining Team represents:• Office Administration• Administrative• Institutional and Health Care, &• Operational and Maintenance/Technical

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THE PLAYING FIELD EXPLAINED

• Corrections Bargaining Team• They negotiate all Corrections’ BU Issues for its members

(e.g., wages, shift schedules and training), and negotiate any central issues that the parties agree should be dealt with at the Corrections bargaining table

• Corrections Bargaining Team represents:• Correctional Officers• Probation Officers• Recreation Officers• Rehabilitation Officers and Youth Workers

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OPS MOBILIZERS ARE NOT BARGAINING TEAM MEMBERS

• Why we are here today?• To provide you with the information that we have about

this round of bargaining

• To respond to your questions to the best of our ability

• To hear your comments and concerns so we can pass them back to the bargaining teams

• To solicit your show of support for the bargaining teams in a couple of simple and non-risk ways, and to gain insight into your thoughts and reactions

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WHAT’S THE BUZZ IN THE WORKPLACE?

• Speakers’ List • Record five or six comments or questions from the Locals’ membership

• Member Participation• What are the key issues that are important to you?• What are people saying around you – what’s important to them?

• Responses to comments or questions• The presentation should provide responses or direction, or• Post-presentation we will update your Local Executive

Committee who will in turn apprise you, also• Watch for Town Hall conference calls, and • Ensure your E-mail Address is registered to receive the

Table Talk Newsletter directly from OPSEU Head Office• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) hand-outs will be made

available in response to your questions as the Bargaining phase continues

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THE “ART” OF INFLUENCE

• Demonstrate “interest” and show “engagement” in what your bargaining units are negotiating with the Employer – How?

• United We Stand – United We Win• Step up to the “challenge” of showing that you care about

your own continued future (and that of others around you) by getting connected with OPSEU and staying connected and staying INFORMED

• Become an advocate for your own rights, and don’t settle for second-best or lie down to let the Employer walk over you

• Share the information you learned here today with any members who aren’t here to learn first hand

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THE “ART” OF INFLUENCE

• Exhibit to the Employer that THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE TOGETHER can and will make a difference – its as Easy as 123:

1.Proudly display the OPSEU marketing materials, e.g., pens, flags, stickers and posters

2.With confidence wear the CHOOSE PUBLIC lanyard, and

3.Attend the “Colour BLUE” events , e.g., designated days, Coffee/Snack or Lunch gatherings

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THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE – TOGETHER!

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YOUR SUPPORT IN THIS ROUND OF BARGAINING WILL BE CRUCIAL

• This round of bargaining is not about the so-called wage freeze, it is really about a pay cut

• It is about preserving the quality of public services everyone in this province depends on

• It is about protecting good jobs that support local businesses and contribute to our economy

• It is about taking action to deal with the dangerous conditions in our jails. The government must boost staffing levels and give our members the personal protective equipment they need to remain safe on the job

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NOT ONLY A SMART DECISION – BUT A NECESSARY ONE!

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FACT: ONTARIO HAS THE LOWEST PROGRAM SPENDING OF ALL PROVINCES

• FACT: The McGuinty government balanced the budget for three years prior to the financial crisis in 2008. Our wages, benefits and pensions did not cause the deficit.

• FACT: The OPSEU bargaining unit has lost close to 3,000 positions in the last four years - 1,100 of them as a result of direct layoffs.

• FACT: More job and service cuts, privatization and downloading are on the horizon if we don’t stand together.

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THE GOAL, THE HISTORY, THE REALITY, WHAT’S NEXT? BACKGROUND INFORMATION YOU NEED TO KNOW

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OVERALL GOAL AND STRATEGY OF OUR UNION

• Goal:• To protect public services, and • Assure fairness for public sector workers

• How?• By bargaining quality public services – one contract at

a time!• By following a planned and well thought-through

political strategy, with a collection bargaining strategy, and a mobilization strategy

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WHAT’S HAPPENING AND WHEN?

• Bargaining Teams went to the table for their first face-to-face meeting with the employer on

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

• Bargaining Campaign Kick-off Coffee and Snack, Luncheon or GMM events will and are happening across the province

• The experience of the doctors, teachers and AMAPCEO inform us that the government will want takeaways

• They will and have demanded we give up many of the rights and entitlements we fought in the past to get

• OPSEU Bargaining 2012 Website and FaceBook pages inform of the Employer’s demands

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SIMPLE FACTS ABOUT RESPECT

President Thomas

• Has pointed out that our Union respects the democratic rights of our members

Premier McGuinty

• Does not respect the democratic right of Ontarians

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THE PREMIER - ACTIONS OF RECENT AND WHY & THE BLAME GAME

• By proroguing the Legislature, the Premier has acted in a dictatorial manner

• He hasn’t been able to get a majority through democratic elections, so

• Instead he is trying to gain a majority by decree

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UNION MESSAGE TO POLITICIANS OF ALL POLITICAL PARTIES

• Government spending did not cause the deficit

• Ontario has the lowest program spending of all the provinces

• The Liberals balanced the budget for three years prior to the financial crisis in 2008

• Our wages, benefits and pensions did not cause the deficit

• Spending cuts will hurt workers, hurt service users and hurt the economy

• We will continue to work with Andrea Horwath and the Ontario NDP to raise awareness about the impact of cuts to public services on our communities

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COLLECTIVE BARGAINING STRATEGY

• October 4 – we decided not to serve government notice to bargain – Why?• Government was getting ready to introduce

Legislation that would, in effect totally destroy our ability to bargain a contract• We were not going to volunteer to cut our own

throats • This was a symbolic move. Either side in

negotiations can serve notice to bargain

• As expected the Employer did serve OPSEU with notice to bargain the very next morning on October 5

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PREMIER DALTON MCGUINTY’S DECISION AND ITS EFFECT

• October 15 – decision and announcement was delivered re: resignation of the Premier and prorogue of the Legislature. What does this mean?• No new Legislation can be introduced and/or

passed for the time being. As a result, the Legislation that would have taken away our right to free collective bargaining is not an immediate threat

• Politics is unpredictable in Ontario – who knows what will happen – we have to be prepared for all possibilities

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WHERE ARE WE NOW?

• Back to bargaining a new OPS Agreement under the same rules we have bargained under since 1995• Employers in the private and public sectors are

making workers pay for the financial crisis caused by greed on Wall Street• The Union’s opening positions were presented

for the first time on Tuesday, November 13

• This round of bargaining is not about the so-called WAGE FREEZE on its own – it is about dismantling our Collective Agreement and threatening our Job Security!

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A WAGE FREEZE IS A WAGE CUT – THAT IS THE REALITY!

• A wage freeze should much like your income stay the same – it doesn’t!

• A freeze means your wages are CUT by the rate of inflation

• Inflation is currently about two percent a year• Inflation is: The loss in purchasing power as a result

of rising prices• This round of bargaining is about protecting

quality public services in this province

• Our contract is a barrier to the dismantling of public services and we need each and every OPSEU member to stand with us and get informed, get mad, and get organized to get what you truly deserve in way of a solid contract plus job security

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MCGUINTY’S GOVERNMENT HAS CUT JOBS AND SERVICES & THEIR ACTIONS DIRECTLY IMPACT SAFETY

AND SECURITY

• Laid off 1,100 OPSEU members and has plans to lay off hundreds more

• In total, nearly 3,000 OPSEU positions have been eliminated from OPS since 2008

• Closed two jails and plans to close four more correctional facilities when the Toronto South Detention Centre and Southwester Detention Centre are operational in 2013 and 2014 respectively

• Closed a young offenders facility and cut beds at two other facilities

• Correctional facilities throughout the province are faced with dangerously low staffing levels as a result of the government imposed three-year hiring freeze

• Overcrowding, understaffing, record number of violent incidents, outdated equipment and aging infrastructure are all contributing factors to our jails being very dangerous and unsafe places to work in

• The recipe for disaster is imminent and still the government does not act

• Closed the 40-year old waterfront landmark in Toronto, Ontario Place

• They will close a mental health centre in the GTA that helps 400 children and youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Complex Mental Health, Emotional and Behavioural Challenges (e.g., Thistleton Regional Centre will be impacted in 2013)

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MCGUINTY’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN LAST 18 MONTHS?

• His government has laid off:• Drinking water inspectors• Employment standards officers• Staff who audited municipalities’ delivery of social

assistance• Air and water quality scientists• The province’s last remaining senior marine

archeologist• Computer specialists who tracked down cyber criminals• Staff who process restraining orders and court orders

for child and spousal support• Staff who process OHIP claims from doctors and

hospitals

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MORE ACCOMPLISHMENTS FROM MCGUINTY’S GOVERNMENT?

• Cancelled the 68-year old Ontario Ranger program• Closed 10 parks to overnight camping• Laid off 75 percent of the forest fire communications staff • Laid off 50 percent of the staff trained to deal with bears

that threaten people’s safety• The government will close area and district offices of the

MNR by 2015• Closed seven Ontario Travel Information Centres

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SERVICEONTARIO IMPACTS – THANKS TO MCGUINTY’S GOVERNMENT

• Will close four ServiceOntario counters on or around November 23 and reduce hours at a further 22 counters with closure imminent by end of 2013

• The Liberal government plans to privatize ServiceOntario, even though this government service contributes $2.7 billion in revenue to the province, as well as safeguarding Ontarians’ personal information

• Everyone in Ontario has to access ServiceOntario in order to get a Birth Certificate, Driver’s Licence and Health Card

• Where is the sense in selling off this vital, money-making public asset?

• The Union has alerted politicians and the public to the dangers of privatizing ServiceOntario

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THERE’S MORE …

• Ontario Disability Support Program is under threat. A government-appointed commission has recommended downloading ODSP to municipalities and merging it with social assistance

• This action a lone will leave hundreds of thousands of vulnerable Ontarians without Long-Term income support and force people with disabilities into precarious, low-wage jobs. It will result in a mishmash of services and rates across the province with no central insight.

• The Union is calling on the government to set aside these recommendations

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MORE PRIVATIZATION – ARE YOU UP FOR THE CHALLENGE?

• Government is looking at privatizing Truck Inspection and Enforcement, and Motor Vehicle Inspection Stations

• This in addition to job cuts made last fall to the Administrative Staff who supported Road Enforcement

• Ontario has the safest roads in North America – that record is now in jeopardy!

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WE NEED TO STAND TOGETHER ON COMMON ISSUES THAT AFFECT US ALL

THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE TOGETHER!

UNITED WE STAND – UNITED WE WIN

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THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE

• Your support will give our bargaining teams the power they need at the table to push back against concessions and achieve a fair deal

• What are YOU prepared to do to protect your contract and get a fair deal?

• Everyone MUST show their support for the bargaining team by wearing CHOOSE PUBLIC lanyards, using a CHOOSE PUBLIC pen, and displaying CHOOSE PUBLIC flags on top of their workstation dividers or desktop

• For Corrections – please wear your black and silver lapel pins that speak to Safety

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OPSEU MATERIALS AND THEIR VALUE

• Local Presidents can order the lanyards, flags, and Blue shirts from the OPSEU Website noting that the pins are allocated solely for Corrections

• Showing your support makes a huge difference. Your Managers will report on what’s being said and what’s happening in the workplace during bargaining to their superiors

• Another way to show your support is by participating in any organized events or activities, especially on “Colour BLUE” days:

• Today’s gathering is an example of showing support and being engaged.

• There will be Coffee and Snack events, Lunch and Learns, Walks, or other GMM events

• Update OPSEU Head Office (Staff Rep) with your Personal (secure) E-mail Address to directly receive the Table Talk Newsletter and enter any of the chance/prize opportunities

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TABLE TALK NEWSLETTER – HOW TO GET THE LATEST UPDATES!

• Available for immediate delivery to your E-mail mailbox (register your personal and secret E-mail Address with OPSEU), or visit the OPSEU Website to download a copy: www.opseu.org

• Website navigational instructions:• Click on OPS bargaining 2012 button (on the banner of the

front page), or• Enter OPS Bargaining 2012 in the search ospeu.org box (at

the top left of the home page) to arrive at the Bargaining 2012 Index page

• TABLE TALK is the second button to the left under the banner

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COPING WITH CHALLENGES AND SEEKING INFORMATION OR HELP

• Bargaining is a stressful time. Rumours can get started based on misinformation. Sometimes that misinformation comes from Managers

• It is important that we don’t believe the rumours

• Take your questions or concerns to your Unit Steward and they will pass then through the Local President to me, as an OPS Mobilizer, or direct them to the bargaining team

• centralbargaining@opseu.org, and• correctionsbargaining@opseu.org

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DON’T WAIT FOR OTHERS TO DO WHAT YOU YOURSELF MUST DO – GET ORGANIZED, GET MOBILIZED AND UNITED WITH OPSEU’S BARGAINING CAMPAIGN!

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LAST REFLECTIONS AND COMMENTS

• Please remember the teams are busy going through your demands and preparing proposals for the bargaining table

• In the months ahead, many factors will come into play as we move forward in bargaining. It is true that we face big challenges, but so does your Employer

• But the more OPSEU members understand the situation we are in, the better we will be able to navigate through bargaining and the stronger we will be

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HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE EMPLOYER DEMANDS?

• Via the OPSEU Website – members can view what the Employer proposed as well as what OPSEU is proposing

• The DEAL ON THE TABLE is totally unbelievable and unacceptable!

• Sometimes a picture is best used to describe the scenario – WE are being “S - - -” on and it doesn’t look or feel right

• Getting MAD can be a POSTIVE thing, especially when you know that you MUST FIGHT BACK if you want to keep your present RIGHTS and BENEFITS

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IN APPRECIATION AND THANKS

• As public employees and as Union Members, we stand for the POWER OF THE PEOPLE TOGETHER

• There is no power greater

• We OPSEU are the GOOD GUYS and GALS!

• Julius Arscott 647-728-9143 arscottj@hotmail.com

• Cindy Kraakman 416-526-9324 ladycynthia2002@yahoo.ca

• June S. Morrison 416-434-9196 JBugMorrison@gmail.com

• Dan Marshall 705-730-2160 jailer@rogers.com