Who is my steward?

You can find local Stewards at sites across the agency.  You can connect with any of them, and the Executive are all Stewards as well.  You can find a list of Stewards here.

how do I get on the mailing list?

To get on our Local's email list, click here.  To get weekly email updates about all the locals in OPSEU, sign a union card, which you can get from a union steward. 

I'm new to the idea of a union.  where can I learn more?

You can check out this link for more info about OPSEU.

why do I need to sign a union card?

You do not have to sign a union card to be a part of our bargaining unit.  However, signing a union card has benefits for you and the local.  It benefits Local 291 because the number of signed members affects the number of delegates we can send to convention.  It benefits us collectively because we get more money so we can participate in OPSEU functions, increase our profile, connect to other locals, build capacity, and most importantly represent the interests of our members. It benefits you individually because you get access to OPSEU member discounts, and you can sign up for weekly emails that give you news about what's going on with OPSEU locals across the province.

What's going on at the provincial level?

You can follow what's going on in our larger organization at www.opseu.org/news.  You can also check out what's going on in the mental health sector of OPSEU here.

Why are all the meetings in Guelph?

We rely on space provided by OPSEU to hold our meetings.  Our regional membership office is located at 400 Speedvale Ave W in Guelph. 

What is Convention?

OPSEU's Convention is a democratic gathering of representatives from every OPSEU local that occurs every two years. At Convention representatives discuss and vote on issues that affect OPSEU as a whole. A "delegate" is a local's official representative and has a vote at Convention. The delegate gets paid by OPSEU if they have to take a day off work to attend Convention. An "alternate" is someone the local sends to observe the proceedings. If the alternate has to miss work to attend Convention, they must use comp or vacation time to be paid for the time off. Both delegates and alternates get reimbursed for travel, accommodation, and food (within reasonable limits as set out by OPSEU).