OPSEU Region 2

To All Local Presidents with Members in the OPSEU Pension Trust:
 
Please see the attached memorandum from Shirley McVittie, Senior Benefits Counsellor, regarding the available OPT Union Trustee position.
 
Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
 
In solidarity,
 
Mike Kelly for Shirley McVittie
Administrative Assistant
Ontario Public Service Employees Union
Membership Benefits Unit
( Tel: (416) 443-8888 ext 8661 / ( Toll free: 1-800-268-7376
 Fax: (416) 443-0553 /   Email: mkelly@opseu.org

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Dear OPSEU Members,

Ten (10) OPSEU members who are Medics have headed to Haiti to give a helping hand, doing not only Canadians proud, but our proud union of OPSEU.

Brother Seamus O’Connor and president of one of our OPSEU locals has stated that he would be keeping us informed of what was going on in Haiti with our members and we look forward to regular updates from him we hope to have it posted on our region #2 web site www.opseuregion2.com and maybe even the main OPSEU web site.

Here is Brother Seamus’ request;

I am Seamus O’Connor President Local 207 Halton Paramedic. I am e-mailing asking if OPSEU and/or OPSEU Locals can donate to assist some of our members who have left for Haiti.

OPSEU in the past has donated $5000 dollars to help ship an Ambulance to Haiti were one of our Medics, with his family have gone to live and help for the next year, prior to the devastation. As many of you are aware the area has just been devastated by an earthquake. Brother Grant (the brother who went with the ambulance) and his family are fine but the clinic they are staying at is being overwhelmed by the sick and injured.

We are hoping that through OPSEU, the Regions, the Locals and our own Local 207, to organize some financial assistance for a number of our medics that have left to go to the clinic in Haiti to help. There has been a personal cost in airfare and the use of their own time. If there is a way that OPSEU members can assist to help offset some of the costs to the Medics it would be greatly appreciated. Any funds that are donated will go towards these requirements, if there is anything left over, and the local will donate to a relief fund to assist the people of Haiti in the name of OPSEU.

Thank you and In Solidarity, Seamus

Please make cheques payable to;

Local 207

C/O OPSEU

55 Frid St.
Suite #1
Hamilton, ON
L8P 4M3

CONGRATULATIONS TO LOCALS 201 AND 276

WINNERS OF THE REGION 2, $250.00 INCENTIVE

Sisters and Brothers,

Please join us in congratulating Local Presidents, Karen Gventer (276) and Randy Sloat (201) for generating the highest percentage return rate for the Count Me In Census!  We know that every local worked hard and did what they could to promote this project and we appreciate the efforts of all!  Thank you!

So you know, we heard from almost 27,000 members across the province and reached over 1/5 of our membership.  We have a broad cross-section of responses across all regions and divisions.

Now begins the process of tabulating the results.  We hope to release a census report by May 2010, in time for Convention.  The report will aim to identify trends, gaps or barriers for members and staff.  For example, we may notice trends around elder care or commuting issues that affect the day to day lives of our members.

Where gaps are identified, they will be followed up in our Membership and Systems Review (Phase II).  This phase will begin early this year.

It will involve best practices research, focus groups and interviews that explore “why” the gaps and trends exist. At the end of the second phase, we hope to develop concrete recommendations about how to improve services, programs and policies at OPSEU.  For example, if we know that 25% of our members have elder care responsibilities, maybe it’s time to look at our policy on family care; or maybe it’s time to re-examine what priorities we’re bringing to the bargaining table.

Stay tuned to this website for updates on the Social Mapping Project.

In Solidarity,

Deb Tungatt, Mike Grimaldi, Eduardo Almeida

Sisters and Brothers,

The OPSEU Count Me In Census has come to an end and it was very successful for a first time endeavor of this magnitude.  We heard from over 24,000 members and reached over 1/5 of our membership.  We have a broad cross-section of responses across all regions and divisions.

Now that census month has ended, be assured that we have exactly the kind of data we need to credibly lead us into Phase II – the membership and employment systems review. 

Big thanks to our amazing mobilizers: Whip Watson, Sylvie Valcourt, Lucy Morton, Tamara Winning, Shawn Swayze, and Karen Gventer.  They worked tirelessly and enthusiastically ensuring great return rates from our Region.  And after hearing about how many cold mornings they spent standing outside speaking to members on their way in to work, I am sure they were wishing Census month was in July!

Additional thanks to our OPSEU staff who really helped promote the project.  Their efforts and support made all the difference in the outcome!

Finally, thanks to all of you for pushing the census in your Locals.  You once again helped demonstrate that the strength or our Union comes from the hard work of the members within it!

In Solidarity,

Deb Tungatt, Mike Grimaldi, Ed Almeida

REGION 2 $250.00 INCENTIVE FOR THE TOP TWO LOCALS

We need all Local President’s to send in the final number of completed census to dtungatt@gmail.com by Friday December 18th.  Please remember that we need the number for your entire Local not just individual Units.

Once all of the information has been submitted, we will announce the top two locals who will then be able to hold a draw for the members within their Local.

REGION 2 OFFERS

CENSUS COMPLETION INCENTIVE 

We are offering a $250.00 incentive to the top two locals who have the highest percentage rate of returned censuses. 

Contact your Local President or any of the following mobilizers for information regarding how to participate and where to get your ballot. 

imwhip@sympatico.ca

kgventer@opseu.org

twinning@opseu.org

lmorton@opseu.org

svalcourt@opseu.org 

Even if you completed your census previously, you can still submit your name for the draw. 

Thanks to all of those who have completed their census already, and for those who haven’t, follow this link www.twiinc.ca/opseu and you can do it now!  It really only takes 5 minutes and you might win $250.00! 

Deb Tungatt, Mike Grimaldi, Eduardo Almeida

OPSEU COUNT ME IN CENSUS

(Phase 1 of the Social Mapping Project) 

November 1, 2009 
 

Sisters and Brothers, 

Count Me In Census month has started and we have just completed ours!  It was painless and quick and we are asking you to please follow the link (www.twiinc.ca/opseu ) and submit your own.  The more surveys we get, the more accurate the final report will be.  The information gathered through the census will help to shape phase 2 of the Social Mapping Project-the systems review. 

This initiative applies to everyone as you will see by the nature of the questions.  The more we know about our members, the better able we are to serve them and build an even stronger and more inclusive Union. 

For more information regarding the Count Me In Census, visit the OPSEU website at www.opseu.org or contact one of the four mobilizers in our Region: 

twinning@opseu.org  (Tamara Winning)

svalcourt@opseu.org  (Sylvie Valcourt)

lmorton@opseu.org  (Lucy Morton)

kgventer@opseu.org  (Karen Gventer) 
 

Please take the lead in your workplace by encouraging other members to participate in this ground breaking work. 
 

In Solidarity,  

Mike Grimaldi, Eduardo Ameida, Deb Tungatt

Region 2 Executive Board Members 

OCTOBER 9, 2009