OPSEU Local 535, Workers of the Art Gallery of Ontario

Thank you again for your support through the bargaining process. You came out in force today and voted IN FAVOUR of our new Collective Agreement.

Full copies of the new Collective Agreement will be printed and distributed to all members shortly.

In order to ratify the collective agreement, all members must have the opportunity to understand the agreement and to vote on it. To this end we are holding two sessions.

DROP IN INFORMATION SESSION
WEDNESDAY MAY 26, 2010
12 noon to 3:30 pm
Jackman Hall

RATIFICATION VOTE
THURSDAY MAY 27, 2010
11:30 am -3:30 pm
Jackman Hall

Please try to drop in tomorrow for information and a handout!
Thursday to VOTE!!

We have reached a tentative agreement and will organize a meeting for Thursday May 27 to communicate details of this agreement and hold a ratification vote.

Thank you again for your continued patience and for your unwavering support. Thank you to everyone who came out for the midnight deadline last night and to the rally on Wednesday. It was your voice and fervor that helped us make gains over the past two days. We truly appreciate your hard work and commitment.

Have a fantastic weekend!

Update from OPSEU Communications Dept:

OPSEU local 535 at the AGO has reached a tentative agreement with the employer 16 hours after the 12:01 a.m. strike deadline.

“Gallery workers are proud of the work that they do and committed to their workplace,” said AGO employee and OPSEU President, Warren (Smokey) Thomas. “This contract is a welcome indication that the employer is prepared to work with the union.”

AGO employees are back at work pending ratification of the new contract. Details of the agreement and ratification will be distributed in the coming days.
OPSEU represents 177 full-time staff and 266 part-time staff at the AGO.

Negotiations are ongoing. Strike postponed until further notice.

Negotiations are ongoing and the strike deadline has been postponed to 12 noon Friday May 21. Please consider today a regular work day until further notice. Should negotiations come to a halt we will be on strike. Please continue to check your personal email for updates.

Strike deadline postponed to 7 am.

Those scheduled for the 6:30 picket shift should call the hotline at 5:30 am.

Anyone scheduled to work at the AGO tomorrow should prepare for work as usual. Check the hotline/website before leaving for work.

Extended the deadline a half hour. People are at the picket line.

In the event of a strike and if you have not signed up for a strike shift
tomorrow, please join us outside the AGO for picket duty. We need as many
people as possible on the picket line for the first day. Consider it your
work day.

Don’t be suprised if you see media or films crews on the picket line.
Please behave appropriatly and respectully. Your actions will reflect
directly on the union as a whole. Remember though, that you cannot be
penalized for participating in a union picket. You are protected by our
local and OPSEU.

It’s important that none of our members cross the picket line. Doing so
could prolong the strike. Please respect our line and do not cross.

If you are worried about finances, please contact the Hardship Committe
chair Charlie Kettle at cjkettle@rogers.com for assistance with groceries or mortgage payments, etc.

We have set up a phone in line for members to call in for updates. This will be updated by 6pm this evening. Please call 416-928-2494.

This line will have a recorded message for info only. Please do not leave a message.

A quick reminder to take home anything you feel you might need before you leave the AGO this evening. Negotiations are still moving ahead but we are still quite far apart and the likelihood of us reaching an agreement by midnight appears slim.

Be sure you know who to contact on your departmental phone tree and remember to check this site for updates.

Picket Shifts

Some OPSEU members have been unable to attend meetings and have requested an alternative process for signing up for picket duty. If you have been unable to attend a meeting but would like to participate in the picket, please select a shift from those listed below and email your selections to either janeandmartha@gmail.com or wendyng77@gmail.com. We will ensure that your names are added to the picket roster. Membership and Strike Pay forms will be available from picket captains when you arrive. You must complete the forms in order to receive compensation for picket duty.

Friday May 21st
12am – 2 am
6:30am – 10:30am
8:00am – 12pm
11am – 3pm
3pm – 7pm

Saturday May 22 and Sunday May 23
9am – 1pm
12pm – 4pm
2pm – 6pm

Monday May 24 (holiday)
8:30am – 12:30pm
11:30am – 3:30pm
1:30pm – 5:30pm

Tuesday May 25
6:30am – 10:30am
10:30am – 2:30pm
2:30pm – 6:30pm

In the event of a strike, AGO email accounts will be blocked. To facilitate communication, members should provide their personal email addresses to Paula if they have not already done so, at paula.whitmore@gmail.com

A quick note to let you know that we are continuing with contract negotiations and are still moving ahead.
 
For those members with any specific needs, Local 535 has set up a hardship committee to help out with financial, medical or other accomodations on a case by case basis. Please contact Charlie Kettle, chair of the Hardship Committee at cjkettle@rogers.com.
 
Check back throughout the day for bargaining updates.
 
REMINDER: Be sure to take your breaks, go for your full lunch and leave promptly at the end of your shift. And make sure you know who to contact in your phone tree before you leave work today.
 

A huge thank you to everyone who attended last evening’s rally outside the AGO. The support we received from our members, other OPSEU Locals, the OPSEU Greater Toronto Area Council, the Canadian Auto Workers Union, the Toronto and York Region Labour Council, the United Steel Workers Union, friends, family and Gallery visitors demonstrated the strength of our position.

Rhythms of Resistance and Faith Nolan had over 100 people marching up and down Dundas Street waving signs and shouting a clear message to the AGO: “Our members deserve job security and full-time work and get get we’re going to Stand Up and Fight Back!”

We headed back to the bargaining table this morning to fight for a fair contract and will keep you posted on our progress through the day. Each department has been assigned a lead contact person and they will activate their phone trees as of midnight tonight whether and agreement has been reached or if we are going on strike. Expect a call. You can also check this site at midnight to confirm whether we are going on strike or not.

The bargaining team will be in contact with the individuals who signed up for the 12-2am shift on Friday around 11pm with an update on our progress.

After yesterday’s meeting there were a few outstanding items in need of clarification:

Strike Pay

All members (full and part time) will receive $30 for each 4 hour shift put in on the picket line, up to a maximum of $150 per week (20 hours). So, if you are only able to do one shift in a week, you will receive $30.

Each week will be scheduled from Sunday to Saturday. If you walk the picket line on Friday or Saturday this week, you will receive $30 for each shift. So far we have posted picket shifts to Tuesday May 25th. In the event of a strike you will receive instructions on how to sign up for shifts in the later part of next week through the scheduling committee.

Benefits

In the event of a strike your benefits with Desjardins cease. OPSEU provides Life Insurance for all members in the event of a strike, but no other medical, dental or elective expenses will be covered for the duration of the strike. In the event of an emergency please contact the Hardship Committee.

Strike Headquarters

In the event of a strike we will have a mobile Strike Headquarters for the Strike Committee to base their operations. Co-chairs of this committee are Wendy Ng and Jane Rhodes. They will oversea the Finance Committee, Hardship Committee and Communications/Mobilization Committee. More information will be shared in the event of a strike.