From the OPSEU post:

"The OPSEU Disability Rights Caucus  ("DRC") is inviting OPSEU members with a disability as defined under the Ontario Human Rights Code to apply for a position on the Disability Rights Caucus.
The role of the representative on the Disability Rights Caucus is to raise awareness and understanding of human rights and equity issues as they relate to individuals with disabilities. Representatives will liaise with the respective OPSEU provincial committees to identify barriers that prohibit full participation of persons with disabilities within OPSEU and the broader society.
The Selection Committee will screen the applications and make a recommendation to the Caucus based on the following five considerations:

•  geographic balance of the seven OPSEU regions
•  a wide range of disabilities with a balance of visible and non-visible disabilities
•  mix of community and union activity
•  gender balance
•  a desire to network, advocate, educate, and increase equality for individuals with disabilities

Please forward applications to the attention of Marg Smoke at msmoke@opseu.org (with the subject line: "DRC Application") or fax to 416-448-7419 no later than 4:00 p.m. on Friday, October 20, 2017.
Download the application form DRC Application Form
If you have any difficulty reading the attachment, please contact the Equity Unit at equity@opseu.org."

You’re invited to participate!
The OHC is holding public hearings across the province. All individuals who access or work in health care, or the organizations representing them, are invited to attend and submit oral or written submissions on reforming Ontario’s hospitals in the public interest.
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*Please note: In order to assist, OPSEU will distribute a template submission, which can be used as a guide. Please keep in mind, however, that the OHC is eager to hear about your local and personal experiences with the health care system and the challenges you and your colleagues face on the front lines when it comes to providing quality patient care. You are the experts on the ground!   
Your input will be used to help create a report, which will be released publicly in the fall. The OHC also plans to use the recommendations from the hearings to measure the political parties’ health care plans leading into next spring’s provincial election.

The OHC wants to hear your ideas about:

• gaps in services
• improving access to care
• funding for Ontario’s hospitals
• improving quality of care
• improving public access to information and meaningful public input
• improving public ownership and democratic control
• the impacts of privatization in your community
• re-integrating services into public hospitals
• ensuring hospitals serve our communities: rural and urban, of diverse age, with cultural sensitivity and respect for our communities’ diversities
• workplace safety
• other public interest issues

For more, check out the full article on the OPSEU website.

From Lucy Morton, Region 2 RVP:

Hello All
Please be advised that unfortunately we will not be having our annual Region 2 Picnic at the Rockwood Conservation...
Please note that we, Eddy, Erin and myself are committed to booking the Pavilion to be assured that this will be available in August 2018.
In solidarity
Lucy, Eddy and Erin ​
905-317-9464

From the Toronto Star:

​"...The changes proposed by the Toronto-based Equal Pay Coalition would require employers to report and post hourly wage and pay arrangements, including the breakdown of part-time, contract and temporary agency employees as women increasingly bear the brunt of precarious work.
'Canada and Ontario are no longer on the leading edge on this. Canada’s standing in global ranking has been falling because of the failure to address women’s economic inequality,' said Fay Faraday, co-chair of the Equal Pay Coalition...."

Read more

OPSEU members include more than 4000 Registered Practical Nurses - so many that a new division is being developed to promote the great work that RPNs do.

​From the newsletter: 
"The division is dedicated to promoting recognition of the scope, practice, and professional responsibilities of RPNs. We will work to advance demands for bargaining and workload issues that would apply to all RPNs, in all parts of Ontario, and in every sector in which they work.
Give us your feedback! We can build a stronger newsletter only if we hear from you and the issues that matter most to registered practical nurses. We are committed to building a stronger division within OPSEU...
These are a few of the issues we have identified for improvement:

• Wage improvements based on the recognition of the full scope of work done by RPNs;
• Workload issues;
• Health and safety in the workplace;
• Across the board recognition of the full scope of our work, regardless of sector;
• Greater participation by RPNs in decisions made by employers that determine at what level we practice within the scope, and
• More opportunities for professional development."

Check out the first RPN Occupational Division newsletter here: https://opseu.org/news/rpn-report-newsletter-opseu-rpns 

The expansion of alcohol sales to grocery stores continues as wine starts appearing on shelves in October. Our union's fight against this privatization is far from over. If you are in the Mississauga area, please plan to join Local 288, representing LCBO employees, at their information picket on: 
 
Date:    Friday, October 21, 2016

Time:    2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Place:   Outside LCBO Store # 619
             5100 Erin Mills Parkway (Erin Mills & Eglinton)
             Mississauga 

Nobody voted for the Ontario Liberals under Kathleen Wynne to privatize the LCBO, but that is exactly what they're doing. Allowing grocery stores to sell beer and wine is undermining the LCBO and its hardworking employees, members of OPSEU. The LCBO belongs to all of us, and its profits pay for the public services we all depend on. We own it!
 
For further information on how you can help out with the picket, please contact: 
   Local 288 president Judy Irving
   j.irvinglocal288@gmail.com

A message from our brothers and sisters at Local 329 at Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care.  There have recently been 2 incidents where 5 of their members have been injured at work.  We can use the discussion forum to organize carpooling for those that are attending.  Let's Stand United L291!!

In response to a request to support one of the striker families for Christmas, we purchased food and gifts for each member of one family.