Hello Local 291 Members
Wow, while we were bargaining, you outdid yourselves behind the scene!!!! We chuckled over the array of creativity displayed in OPSEU blue that came our way at the table. We saw blue socks, blue scarves, blue eyes with blue glasses, blue rings, blue jeans and even blue suede shoes! And blue fingernails galore; some with a full set of ten fingers and others donning one fingernail discreetly painted OPSEU blue. (check out Facebook and here to see some of your coworkers who gave permission to post them--if you are contemplating sending a pic but feel shy about it, know you don’t have to show your face).
We have finished three more days of bargaining and will reconvene in the new year with dates for January 22, 24 & 27 and February 10 & 11. A member queried why bargaining takes more than a few days. Our response is that Local 291 is worth putting in the time and effort with the end goal to hold gains we have made in the past and endeavour to navigate improvements in a hostile political environment. We believe that directly or indirectly every member provides to our community--for the employer--a quality, needed service for vulnerable individuals and their families. Our respective education, training, skills and abilities enable us to provide the required compassion, professionalism, sensitivity and responsibility to the service. Such dedication and focus may claim an emotional, physical and/or mental impact over time. Your elected bargaining team is committed to taking the time and effort to work toward achieving a collective agreement and working conditions that support, compensate and provide acknowledgment that mirrors the responsibility extended by our members. An injury to one is an injury to us all.
Lastly, over this festive season, be it Christmas, Kwanzaa, Chanukah, Winter Solstice, and all other celebrations your bargaining team wishes you and yours peace, safety, happiness and camaraderie with one another.
In Solidarity,
J. Beckett
J. Chambo
T. Dupuis
S. Jenkins-Moss
S. Tobin
Wow, while we were bargaining, you outdid yourselves behind the scene!!!! We chuckled over the array of creativity displayed in OPSEU blue that came our way at the table. We saw blue socks, blue scarves, blue eyes with blue glasses, blue rings, blue jeans and even blue suede shoes! And blue fingernails galore; some with a full set of ten fingers and others donning one fingernail discreetly painted OPSEU blue. (check out Facebook and here to see some of your coworkers who gave permission to post them--if you are contemplating sending a pic but feel shy about it, know you don’t have to show your face).
We have finished three more days of bargaining and will reconvene in the new year with dates for January 22, 24 & 27 and February 10 & 11. A member queried why bargaining takes more than a few days. Our response is that Local 291 is worth putting in the time and effort with the end goal to hold gains we have made in the past and endeavour to navigate improvements in a hostile political environment. We believe that directly or indirectly every member provides to our community--for the employer--a quality, needed service for vulnerable individuals and their families. Our respective education, training, skills and abilities enable us to provide the required compassion, professionalism, sensitivity and responsibility to the service. Such dedication and focus may claim an emotional, physical and/or mental impact over time. Your elected bargaining team is committed to taking the time and effort to work toward achieving a collective agreement and working conditions that support, compensate and provide acknowledgment that mirrors the responsibility extended by our members. An injury to one is an injury to us all.
Lastly, over this festive season, be it Christmas, Kwanzaa, Chanukah, Winter Solstice, and all other celebrations your bargaining team wishes you and yours peace, safety, happiness and camaraderie with one another.
In Solidarity,
J. Beckett
J. Chambo
T. Dupuis
S. Jenkins-Moss
S. Tobin