The newsletter for OPSEU Stewards and Activists Volume 18, Number 3 ~ Spring 2012

How to manufacture a crisis

Child Labour - The price of gold

Bob Dematteo: A leader in Health and Safety Editorial Policy Inside this issue The content and editing of this newsletter are determined by the committee. We want members to feel How to manufacture ownership of In Solidarity and view it as independent 3 of any particular segment of the union. Content comes a crisis from our base of activists, staff and other labour Area Councils: sources. 4 Where an article has a by-line, the views are those of Important to us the author and not necessarily the views of OPSEU. Keep your eyes on the While we welcome your contributions, we ask that 5 these be constructive. All articles should be signed and @#&%* ROAD! include Local number and should contribute positively The price of gold: Child to the welfare of this union. 7 We encourage thoughtful discussion of all related Labour - a three-part series issues and reserve the right to edit for libel, length and clarity, and to reply to those that seem to reflect a Shannen’s Dream: The first 8 misunderstanding of the union and its policies. voice from Attawapiskat The elected members of the editorial committee for In Solidarity are: Bob Dematteo: A leader in 10 Laurie Sabourin – Editor, Local 368 Health and Safety Karrie Ouchas – Local 340 What I learned from Occupy Felicia Fahey – Local 681 12 Lisa Bicum – Local 125 Toronto Nancy Hart-Day – Local 234 Rules of Non-Parliamentary 14 Ex-officio members: Procedure James Tocker – Executive Board Liaison Don Ford – OPSEU Communications Brewing beer an essential 16 Please send mail to In Solidarity, c/o Laurie service? Sabourin, OPSEU Head Office, 100 Lesmill Rd., Taking on Canadian mining Toronto, Ontario M3B 3P8. Contact at: 17 [email protected] companies: Chiapas We are also your elected members of Informed The OPSEU Resource Centre Newsletters for OPSEU/Bulletins informés pour le 20 SEFPO. If you require any support, advice or start-up First Contact information concerning newsletters, please contact one of the executive members. Health and Safety Act and the 22 Law

Protections during probation 24

Authorized for distribution: Scholarship funds empower 26 the next generation

Warren (Smokey) Thomas, President The Rainbow Connection 27 Ontario Public Service Employees Union In Solidarity is produced for all OPSEU stewards, Pledge to fight for health and 28 local newsletter editors, certified Health and Safety safety Representatives and activists.

inSolidarity ~ Spring 2012 2 Drummond Report: How to manufacture a crisis

Diablogue, OPSEU be somewhere below $12 billion this year. This means Drummond’s starting point is wrong. Don Drummond certainly knows how to Second, economist Hugh MacKenzie says manufacture a crisis. Drummond is forecasting a much higher interest For several years now he has been telling us that rate on Ontario’s debt – in fact Drummond public health care spending is out of control, and expects interest rates to almost double. What is the that if left unchecked, it would soon consume justification for this, especially when the U.S. has 70 per cent of the provincial budget. Since those already committed to keeping interest rates low projections, spending on health care has actually until at least the end of 2014? gone down as a share of provincial program With historic low interest rates, Ontario is spending, from 46 per cent to 42 per cent. paying no more to service its debt now than it was Oddly, despite a trend line going in the opposite a decade ago. As debt bonds mature, new bonds direction, Drummond continues to maintain this will be issued at a much lower rate of interest, forecast. driving debt service charges even further down. Now, as Commissioner for Public Service Start off with the wrong assumption, estimate Reform, he is telling us that if we don’t enter into higher than reasonable interest rates, then let a period of extreme austerity, we will soon be the compounding do the rest and, voila, you have built Greece of Canada. a crisis. Don’t break out the tzatziki sauce yet. Drummond also likes to breed fear by comparing It’s true we have a deficit, but it’s likely not as apples to oranges, reflecting “real” growth rate much as Drummond and Finance Minister Dwight projections against “nominal” government Duncan say it is. expenditures. What does this mean? Why do we believe this? Both Drummond and Nominal is the actual dollar value. This figure Duncan have a history of pessimistic forecasts that always appears higher than “real” growth always come rosy on budget day. This is not magic projections because real growth subtracts the rate or the result of good management – its public of inflation. manipulation of the facts. For example, Don Drummond can talk about a The actual deficit in 2010-11 came in 43 per cent 3.2 per cent increase in program costs (nominal) below what Duncan had forecast a year earlier. while the economy grows by only 2 per cent That’s a big difference. If their forecasting is continued on page 3 anywhere near this bad, the real deficit is likely to

3 inSolidarity ~ Spring 2012 Area Councils

Important to us

Felicia Fahey, In Solidarity charity and community events within the area. This includes Labour Day activities, strikes and In our union, the ability to network and picket lines that need support, political action, communicate with one another is vitally fundraisers, all-candidates debates, and many important. As activists, we are lucky to have other union activities. tools available to us to help make this even easier. Just before convention, area councils are OPSEU’S Local Area Councils are among these extremely busy writing and submitting resolutions tools. These councils provide a place for local and constitutional amendments on behalf of each Presidents and delegates to get together and push area. Many of those submissions make it to the the labour movement’s ideas and action plans convention floor. forward. OPSEU supports and encourages participation Local councils form in a catchment area within in these valuable councils by offering a 90-per- each region and consist of locals within that area. cent rebate to locals that affiliate with their Local Once the council is formed, by-laws are set up Area Council. Every January, dues from locals are and officers are elected, much the same as within collected. To submit your receipt for the rebate, your local. Meetings and the style of meetings vary download the reimbursement form from the from council to council based on members’ needs. member service section of opseu.org. It is a win- Councils meet monthly, bimonthly, or quarterly. win for locals and area councils. Local delegates This is all decided by the members of the council. get to meet other activists and stay in touch and Area councils play an important role within involved in important matters. And your local gets OPSEU and are emerging all over the province. back most of the money just for getting involved. They make it easier for delegates to get to know If your area does not have an active area council, one another in their own region and in the speak to your staff representative or executive different sectors of OPSEU. Within us, OPSEU board member about getting help to set one up. members have amazing resources. We are the The goal is to have an active area council in all “public services people” of Ontario. We hold the areas of the province. If you have one in your knowledge and expertise to help each other. vicinity, think about affiliating and try to get Area councils provide an opportunity to out to a meeting to see what it’s all about. You brainstorm with other activists, and to let won’t regret it. Now let’s get out there and start other locals know of ongoing campaigns, and mobilizing! inSolidarity ~ Spring 2012 4 Keep your eyes on the @#&%* ROAD!

Lisa Bicum, In Solidarity per cent of students found texting to be “very” or “extremely” distracting. A study by AAA I never thought I’d say this, but I almost wish found that 46 per cent of teens admitted to being that people would go back to talking on the phone distracted behind the wheel because of texting. while driving. Preposterous, you say? My daily A 2009 experiment in Car and Driver magazine drive isn’t what many of you in major centers showed that texting while driving had a greater would drive in a day. My drive consists of 30 km impact on safety than driving drunk. While legally of wide open, flat, two-lane highway with a couple drunk, the subject’s stopping distance at 70 mph of bends, a couple of stop signs and traffic lights, increased by four feet. By contrast, reading an and a few cows to look at. However, my safety e-mail added 36 feet, and sending a text added 70 concerns are the same as those of all of us—getting feet. smucked by someone who is texting and driving. If A study at the University of Utah found a six- people were to talk on the phone, at least I might fold increase in distraction-related accidents when be able to see their eyes when they pass me. texting. In the past few months during my rural daily A July 2010 Fairleigh Dickinson University commute, I’ve conducted an informal survey to Public Mind poll found 25 per cent of New Jersey see how many people have their eyes on the road residents of voting age admitted to sending a while driving. Sadly, the results weren’t favourable. text while driving – up from 15 per cent in 2008. In the past, we worried about people eating, Over 35 per cent of New Jersey drivers aged 30 putting on makeup, reading a paper, adjusting the to 45 and 17 per cent of drivers over 45 admitted radio, or talking on the phone. Heck, those were to having sent text messages while driving, an bad enough. Now, I think things are spiralling increase of 5 to 10 per cent from 2008. toward an all-time dangerous low. What’s going on in Canada? All provinces have We all know we shouldn’t text while driving, banned talking on hand-held phones and texting but I don’t think any of us really think we could while driving. The Northwest Territories, Nunavut, cause any harm. But, there is a growing body of and Yukon have yet to enact bans. Many U.S. statistical information that is proving we can. states have banned hand-held devices, and many The 2006 Liberty Mutual Insurance Group other states are getting there. survey of more than 900 US teens found that 37 continued on page 6

5 inSolidarity ~ Spring 2012 Drummond Report continued from page 3 (real) to illustrate how unsustainable our current to $16 billion less in revenue for the Ontario situation is. This is what he has been doing in the government every year. media for the last few weeks. $16 billion – hey isn’t that what Drummond and However, if inflation is running at 2.5 per cent – Duncan say is the present deficit? as was reported this morning – and real growth is Clearly there are better options. As one observer 2 per cent, that means the nominal increase in the astutely put it, the Drummond report was written economy is 4.5 per cent. Things look very different by the 1 per cent for the 1 per cent. under that scenario. Government revenues never The rest of us need to engage now if we don’t grow less than the nominal growth in the economy. want to see our province vandalized for the sake In fact, it’s not uncommon for government of the few.  revenues to rise slightly above the nominal rate of growth. Now here’s the real challenge: economic growth comes from two sources – the private sector and the public sector. For every dollar the public sector spends, it usually creates a ripple effect in the Eyes on the road economy of about $1.50. If the public sector sheds jobs too quickly, the private sector has to make up for it or run the risk of recession. This is called continued from page 5 fiscal drag. If Drummond’s recommendations In 2010, Alberta introduced Bill 16, Alberta’s to limit spending are accepted, according to first distracted driving legislation. While the bill economist Jim Stanford, this could reduce is not yet law, the government and several media economic growth from between 1.6 per cent to outlets have publicly discussed what will and 2.8 per cent over the next four years. That’s a huge won’t be allowed under the law. obstacle for the private sector to overcome. We know the law. The internet is littered with If we go into recession, government revenues fall videos and pleas of families of those killed or further, creating the need for another cycle of cuts. suspected to have been killed by drivers who were At that point we can break out the tzatziki. distracted or texting. Numerous organizations How much of all this is self-inflicted? are urging people to pledge not to drive while While the government talks about all of us distracted or texting. Conversely, there are those having to make sacrifices, they have only hinted who think governing bodies should not have a say at suspending the last phase of their corporate tax in what we do when we drive – much the same cuts, even though our rates are already more than as the arguments against legislating lifejackets competitive. or seatbelts. Inventors propose gadgetry to keep Are you really making a sacrifice by not helping drunk drivers from starting cars. I think it’s time yourself to another cookie from the jar? we think seriously about this. If I look at the A real sacrifice might involve asking the content of my texts or phone calls, they’re all corporate sector to put back the cookies they got pretty mundane. No message is so urgent that it in the last two years, raising another $2.4 billion can’t wait until I’m someplace safe. Please think in taxes. That would go a long way to offset the about your actions and drive responsibly. When deficit. you really think about it, it’s a pretty easy thing to In all, the Harris-McGuinty tax cuts add up do. 

inSolidarity ~ Spring 2012 6 The price Child Labour - a three-part series of gold

Lisa Bicum, In Solidarity Not only are these children subjected to back- breaking work, but it can be argued that the As I write this, I am assaulted by glitzy bigger danger for them is exposure to the mercury decorations, annoying radio jingles, the consumer used to separate the gold from the ore. Mercury onslaught of crappy Christmas ‘must-haves’ and attacks the central nervous system, and mercury I fight my hardest to not get caught up in the poisoning results in a range of neurological hysteria that is the Christmas season. However, conditions, including tremors, coordination I do have fond memories of Christmas when I and concentration problems, impaired vision, was a child, and I certainly enjoy watching my headaches, and memory loss. Sadly, mercury’s children partake in seasonal recitals and activities. toxic effects are not immediately noticeable, but Yet, it’s all a bit too much when we factor in all develop over time. It’s unsettling that children are of those who, here and abroad, live in deplorable exposed to so much mercury so early in their lives. conditions. In this season when we focus so Mercury toxicity isn’t the only hazard of much on kids, I thought it fitting that we look at working in these gold mines. When interviewed, challenges for children across the world. Perhaps child miners said that they suffered from back, we will make the move to support human rights head, neck, arm, and joint pain, coughing, and groups. Perhaps becoming aware is the first step. respiratory ailments. A report was posted December 6, 2011 to Why are these kids not living what we consider the website Human Rights Watch (www.hrw. a ‘normal’ childhoods? Most of them work with org) outlining the horrific conditions of children their parents to supplement the little income adult working in the toxic conditions of gold mines in miners get from selling their gold to local traders. Mali. Children without parents migrate to the mines by Independent, informally-organized mines use themselves and end up being exploited and abused children as young as six to carry loads heavier by relatives or strangers who take their pay. Some than their own weight, dig shafts, climb into girls are sexually abused or work in the sex trade unstable shafts, and touch and inhale mercury, one to survive. These mines draw children from many of the most toxic substances on earth. Upwards of parts of Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, and other 20,000 children work in these unregulated mines neighbouring countries. that often use low-tech methods to extract the Where is the government in all of this? In June gold. continued on page 9

7 inSolidarity ~ Spring 2012 Shannen’s Dream The first voice from Attawapiskat

Nancy Hart-Day, In Solidarity reserves throughout Canada, which is allegedly akin to Third World conditions.” Anaya noted that We’ve heard a lot in the media these past few many residents in the community of 1,800 live in months about the Northern Ontario reserve, unheated shacks or trailers with no running water. Attawapiskat. He suggested that Attawapiskat isn’t the only James Anaya, the United Nations Special reserve community in crisis. First-nations leaders Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, asked the UN to monitor Canada’s actions on wrote in a statement published on the UN website the remote reserve in December. In his statement, and quoted in the Globe and Mail on Dec 20, Mr. Anaya noted that aboriginal communities 2011: “The social and economic situation of the face higher rates of poverty, and poorer health, Attawapiskat seems to represent the condition education and employment outcomes than non- of many First Nation communities living on aboriginals in Canada. It was Shannen Noella Jane Koostachin, a grade eight student from Attawapiskat First Nation, who, in 2008 brought the first voice from the Attawapiskat Reserve. She described the conditions of her people. She wrote a letter to the Minister of Indian Affairs, Chuck Strahl, describing the conditions she and her classmates had to endure just to get an education (see letter at www. shannensdream.ca). Shannen and her classmates decided to take action against broken promises for a new school. You will learn from the website how Shannen knew just how hard it was to learn in an under-resourced. reserve school The only elementary school for the 400 children in Attawapiskat was closed when thousands of gallons of diesel fuel contaminated the ground under the school. The federal government put portable trailers on the playground of the contaminated school as a “temporary school” until a new one could be built. Nine years later, inSolidarity ~ Spring 2012 8 there was still no sign of a new school and still no running water due to contaminants in the ground. Shannen further describes how the portables became more run-down over time. The heat would The price of gold often go off, the children would have to walk outside in the cold to go from one portable to continued from page 7 another, and the doors were warped. The children of Attawapiskat launched the Attawapiskat School 2011, Mali’s government adopted a National Campaign to reach out to non-Aboriginal children Action Plan for the Elimination of Child Labour. across Canada to write to the federal government However, the plan has not been put into action. and demand a new school for Attawapiskat. There are no regular labour inspections in You will learn from the website how the children artisanal mines, and a ban on hazardous child used the money saved for their graduation trip labour (working with mercury) has not been to Niagara Falls, and chose three students to enforced. The government has also largely failed to take the voice of the children of Attawapiskat to make education accessible and available for child Ottawa, and to speak to the Minister of Indian labourers in mines. Schools are often far away, Affairs and demand a new school. Shannen led the charge fees, and do not encourage attendance Attawapiskat School Campaign, a movement for for children who have migrated from elsewhere. “safe and comfy” schools and quality, culturally- Oddly enough, government officials often benefit based education for first-nations children. from the sale of gold. Shannen Koostachin died in an automobile In addition, one expert noted that countries accident May 31, 2010. With the support of her purchasing this low-tech, cheap gold (Switzerland, loving family, friends and community, Shannen’s United Arab Emirates, and Dubai) need to take Dream is now the name of the campaign named in responsibility by putting in place measures to her memory to make sure all first-nations children ensure their gold has not been mined by children. across Canada have “safe and comfy schools” and The purchasers need to step up and work with receive a good quality education that makes them local governments and international agencies to proud of who they are. eliminate child labour. Shannen was – and still is – the first voice As I glance over of Attawapiskat. Who knew her voice would at my well-fed, describe not only the school she attended but her well-educated community as a whole? children, I feel Canada’s 13th Prime Minister John Diefenbaker fortunate; yet, I said it best: have to admit I “We must vigilantly stand on guard within our feel a bit ashamed. own borders for human rights and fundamental I’m not a big gold freedoms which are our proud heritage. . .We purchaser, but cannot take for granted the continuance and this information maintenance of those rights and freedoms.” makes me want Our proud heritage of our country can no longer to continue to be taken for granted when the people of the First be aware of the Nations are living in third world conditions and origin of products the voices of our children are not being heard. purchased by We cannot let the voices of our children go my family. Also, silent. Let’s keep Shannen’s Dream alive, not only I’ll make sure to for the schools, but for the community as well. follow any updates Please continue to support Shannen’s dream and on Human Rights the community of Attawapiskat.  Watch (www.hrw. org).

9 inSolidarity ~ Spring 2012 Bob Dematteo: A leader in Health and Safety

Terri Aversa, Health and Safety

Imagine your first task upon being hired is to get thousands of OPSEU members covered by health and safety legislation. That’s what happened to Bob Dematteo when he joined the OPSEU staff as a research officer in 1976. Because of his background, he was perfect to lead the huge struggle to convince the authorities that OPSEU members suffered more than just paper cuts. He had been a CAAT academic at Humber College teaching labour economics and social studies. And he was chief steward in the local union. DeMatteo and staff representative Peter Slee built a massive campaign to fight and lobby for health and safety coverage for unprotected OPSEU members. The Crown was not bound by Bill 70, the new health and safety legislation. After conducting a massive survey of the hazards OPSEU members faced, DeMatteo and Slee led a local community campaign, activating OPSEU members to lobby all sectors, local and provincial The expose, later republished by the Criminal politicians, local community leaders, the media, Lawyers Association, led to a major overhaul and even industrial unions. The message was that of the prison system. Other work followed in OPSEU members faced serious health and safety institutional settings. Bob helped Columbia hazards and they demanded inclusion in any University’s Dr. Jeanne Stellman with a major health and safety legislation. stress study of all institutional workers – in The campaign spawned OPSEU’s first health and prisons, psychiatric hospitals, and developmental safety training program. Kicked off in Port Elgin service organizations. The work was almost in August 1976, OPSEU began to train OPSEU stopped when the government opposed the study. health and safety activists. Every weekend for After OPSEU members organized, participated, over a year, 100 activists went through training. and mobilized efforts to keep the study going, the DeMatteo maintained that these programs gave work continued, leading to improvements OPSEU members a leading edge in dealing with DeMatteo fought the process of employers. deinstitutionalization. Conducting major He also exposed overcrowding conditions investigations of conditions in deinstitutionalized in Ontario’s prisons in “Crisis Behind Bars.” settings, he published his findings in a booklet, inSolidarity ~ Spring 2012 10 “Ontario’s Mental Health Care Breakdown.” The drawing attention around the world and laying booklet led to a province-wide investigative tour the groundwork for getting health and safety of conditions of the mentally ill and the book, protections for VDT operators within OPSEU and Madness by John Marshall. across Canada. It spawned a coalition with other DeMatteo’s commitment to winning health and unions that won international recognition as a safety protections for OPSEU workers had no major information and resource centre. Then came limits. After hearing about especially disturbing groundbreaking legal cases about the right to be situations, he’s been known to slam down the reassigned while pregnant and to refuse work on phone and rush right over to the local to see what VDTs. Regulatory changes and new collective he could do to help. Having him on your side for agreement language followed, and ultimately, so health and safety issues usually meant eventual did the right to bargain technological change that acquiescence by the other side. His mixture of had a health and safety impact. academic and activist qualities meant that he DeMatteo’s offered guidance and advice on the produced the very best work and strategies to shutdown of the Newmarket courthouse due to accomplish any health and safety objective with mould and the struggle at the Kingston OHIP any audience. building that had been built on a coal tar site. In the 1980s, Bob joined with OPSEU’s Whatever the cause, Bob was always there to Ministry of Labour inspectors to draw attention help workers find their way forward. Whether it to weaknesses in health and safety enforcement. was to “lay information” to a justice of the peace Inspectors were being politically and systematically to try to have employers prosecuted, or to move thwarted from doing their work. Together with the goalposts into new health and safety territory, DeMatteo, they created a brief, which the or just to listen, DeMatteo provided the very best inspectors presented to the Minister of of service, not just to OPSEU members, but Labour with the hope of strengthening workers everywhere. health and safety enforcement. The brief He is always quick to remind us made newspaper headlines for weeks. that it takes team effort to make The government finally agreed to change. He credits many for conduct an inquiry that led to a sharing their skills to major increase in numbers of help in the fight – Peter inspectors, better training, Slee for his belief in and the hiring of some empowering workers and inspectors from the Katie FitzRandolph from labour movement. OPSEU Communications for, Bob is famous worldwide as Bob says, making his clumsy for his work in the 1980s writing be understood by the and 1990s in computerization readers. and technological change. Under After 26 years, DeMatteo retired the Crown Employees Collective from OPSEU, but is still active. He is a Bargaining Act, the union had no right board member at the Occupational Health to bargain or even discuss technological Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW). change. The government wouldn’t even He researches, writes articles, and uses his consider health and safety proposals related expertise to fight for a health and safety system to new technology. How did DeMatteo that protects workers. Indeed, Bob DeMatteo’s respond? He began a major health and safety passion and commitment to improving initiative about the health impact of video workers health and safety has followed him display terminals (VDTs). He conducted into retirement. And the activists he trained primary research on the impact of on clerical and mentored continue along where Bob still workers and wrote a historic book, Terminal treads.  Shock. More than 10,000 copies sold,

11 inSolidarity ~ Spring 2012 What I learned from Occupy Toronto

Don Ford, OPSEU Communications So I never really took the time to learn a lot about the Toronto protest. I certainly The protesters who occupied St. James Park agreed with the reasons behind the protests this past fall gained a lot of media attention. in Toronto, on Wall Street, and in other cities At first, many reports discussed the growing around the world. The message was clear: 99 gap between the wealthy 1 per cent and the per cent of the population was fed up with 1 rest of society. Soon, however, most of the per cent controlling the world’s wealth. Big media attention turned negative. Daily reports, corporations are really running everything editorials, letters to the editor, blogs and now, earning millions and billions while websites condemned the occupiers as lawless working people struggle to make ends meet. invaders, accusing them from everything from This agenda is one OPSEU fights daily while trespassing to anarchy. we try to improve the working lives of our In partnership with other unions, OPSEU members. supported the occupation with resources and About a week or so before the occupation money. Predictably, this caused a backlash ended, I had an opportunity to spend time at among some of our members. Calls and e-mails St. James Park. My first impression wasn’t that arrived daily at Head Office from members positive. Tents, mud, discarded signs, makeshift who were furious that their union was using shelters, lines of port-a-potties, homeless their dues money to support a bunch of “non- people obviously suffering from different types union communists” who were doing nothing of mental illness…they all blended together but creating “a public nuisance” (that was the into a chaotic blight. general consensus). That impression immediately changed when I The Occupy protest was on my radar, but met two of the protest organizers. Here were a I wasn’t immersed in the day-to-day goings- young woman and man who were dishevelled, on down at the site. Other OPSEU staff, dirt-streaked and obviously tired. Then Board members and activists were quite they spoke. They were quiet, intelligent and involved. Many of them visited the protesters educated. They had a spark in their eyes that daily. OPSEU produced web updates, radiated their passion for their cause. It was communications pieces, and of course, helped a determination that I usually see only in our pay for and construct the now infamous most seasoned activists. “yurts,” the large tents structures from Another admission: My opinion of young Mongolia that became an integral part of the people had become fairly low. I’ve apparently demonstration. turned into the curmudgeon I SWORE I’d

inSolidarity ~ Spring 2012 12 never become. When I was young, I made fun of people like that. Twenty-five years later, my general impression of young people is that they are only interested in texting, Facebook, and getting whatever they could for themselves (and to hell with everyone else). I’ve since learned that similar disparaging sentiments were etched into the walls of the Pyramids, but I digress. But back to the park. Here was a group of young people who were obviously not there for personal gain. They were there to stand up for their beliefs. They were there, at a great level of actually a functioning society all on its own. personal sacrifice and discomfort, to bring a What impressed me the most was their daily message to the public. meetings or “General Assemblies” as they Their level of organization would make the called them. There were rules. People had to military proud. In the three yurts, they had set be on a speakers’ list. A simple set of hand up a medical station, a library and a computer/ signals were in place for the crowd to express media/communications centre. Designated their approval or disapproval with issues being volunteers picked up trash, organized food raised. All voices were heard, and a sense of deliveries and made banners and signs. Other order and respect prevailed. Every decision was volunteers facilitated daily seminars in the park made by consensus. And somehow, it actually on legal issues, economics and social issues. worked. What looked like chaos from the outside was continued on page 15

13 inSolidarity ~ Spring 2012 Back by popular demand...and just in time for Convention... Rules of Non-Parliamentary Brush up on these non-rules so you too can fully POINT OF IRRELEVANT participate in the next OPSEU Convention! INTERJECTION Irrespective of the motion on the floor, participants POINT OF PERSONAL OUTRAGE shall have the right to monopolize the meeting for At any time during a meeting when a participant not more than five minutes as they discourse on becomes extremely upset, they shall have the right a point the relevance of which escapes all other to interrupt any other speaker, will not be required participants. to wait for recognition from the Chair, and has the obligation to speak at a volume considerably higher POINT OF PERSONAL ATTACK than required for normal conversation. In response to a point raised by another speaker, a participant shall have the right to reply by launching a personal attack. At no time shall the point itself be addressed. POINT OF ASSOCIATIVE GUILT A participant shall have the right to impugn the solidarity of anyone at the meeting by alleging that they are, were, might be, has a third cousin who is, or may have great-grandchildren who will belong to any and all organizations designated by the participant as dedicated to the destruction of the Local or Union. POINT OF CONTEMPT A participant shall have the right to grunt, throw papers down on the table, shake his or her head vigorously, or otherwise demonstrate contempt for the proceedings. POINT OF HARASSMENT A participant shall have the right to introduce irrelevant motions for the sole purpose of delaying the meeting. It is only permissible to resort to a point of harassment when the outcome of an imminent vote is obvious. POINT OF REDUNDANT INFORMATION This is not to be confused with the more familiar "point of information". Whereas a point of information is a request for

inSolidarity ~ Spring 2012 14 Rules of Non-Parliamentary Procedure Occupy Toronto information from the Chair, a point of redundant information entitles a participant to tell those in the meeting something they already know. continued from page 13 Suddenly, I had a new appreciation for these POINT OF REDUNDANCY young people. I remember thinking at the time This is a motion that entitles a participant to make a that there just may be hope for our younger point made by another participant no more than five generation after all. speakers earlier. Of course, none of this was reported in the media. Shocking, I know. The mainstream POINT OF PIOUS POSTURING news outlets, especially in Toronto, seemed This motion entitles a participant to make reference interested in reporting only on the mess, the to any By-law that allegedly supports their point noise and the “loss of enjoyment” of the park of view. A correct quotation, however, immediately by surrounding residents - and, of course, the disqualifies the point. futility of what these young people were trying to accomplish. POINT OF GRUDGE So…it begs the question: Why did OPSEU Entitles a participant to raise an issue debated by the support this group? organization not less than five years earlier, for which Now, having witnessed the protest first-hand, the participant has not yet forgiven those involved. I can more easily answer this question. These young people are our future. Twenty or thirty POINT OF PERSONAL CONFUSION years from now, when many of us are retired To be called when the member in question has lost or getting close to it, these young people will complete track of where the discussion is going due to be the decision-makers. Many of them will not the extreme tangent that it has taken. be thinking only of themselves, but wanting to Example: A motion to clean up the Local's section make changes for the benefit of working people of highway that it has 'adopted' has won the floor. everywhere. In other words, they are our union After several rounds of debate, the conversation is activists of the future. now centered around whether the members are living I believe OPSEU’s support of Occupy up their obligations (oaths, requirements, etc.). At this Toronto responded not only to an immediate point Member "X" calls: "POINT OF PERSONAL need, but to an investment in the future. These CONFUSION! What the hell are we talking about?" young people may find themselves in a union, or wanting to join one, and for them their POINT OF PERSONAL WEIRDNESS experience with OPSEU will only hold positive This is to be called if the member in question feels memories. These will be the voices who will that the subject being discussed is of an extremely lead their co-workers, stand up for their rights, weird nature. fight back against unjust employers, and Example: A discussion is going on as to whether the uniting to make a life better for everyone. Local President would look better covered in Spam or Many of these young women and men will be grape jelly. At this point Member "X" calls: "POINT our union activists of tomorrow. And if what OF PERSONAL WEIRDNESS! This is really I saw is an indication of what is to come, our weird."  future is in very good hands. 

15 inSolidarity ~ Spring 2012 Brewing beer an essential service? IUF/CALM the regional court annulled the decision of the lower court, ruling Lithuania’s courts have declared that the brewery strike announced beer production an essential in June was illegal. service. The regional court’s decision to In a labour dispute that’s been rule the strike illegal is based on brewing since last summer, the the following astonishing grounds: transnational beer producer “The collective agreement is in Carlsberg has the support of compliance with the Labour Code Lithuania’s legal system. because the wages of Carlsberg In June 2011, members of employees are above the market the IUF-affiliated Lithuanian level, jobs are maintained and Trade Union of Food Producers wages are not reduced.” (LPMS) voted in favour of strike The regional court is attempting action at the Carlsberg brewery to legitimize Carlsberg’s attempt in Lithuania in support of their to freeze wages for three years demand for a decent company- by declaring a legitimate strike level collective agreement. unlawful. In order to stop the strike, the The union has appealed the company applied with a petition regional court decision to a asking the district court to higher court, where it is still declare the strike ballot procedure under appeal, and submitted a invalid and the strike illegal, and complaint to the ILO that the demanded compensation for IUF has formally supported and litigation costs. that will now be examined by The company not only tried the Committee on Freedom of to stop the strike and declare it Association. illegal but also argued that no The brewery sector is unlikely strike action was possible until the to be considered an essential high season had passed. service by the ILO Committee The court suspended the start on Freedom of Association. It’s of the planned strike for 30 days expected ILO will condemn a based on a dubious determination court decision to suspend a strike that the production of beer was for an unreasonable period, saying recognized as “vitally essential” in it denies the right to strike and Lithuania. contravenes international labour On July 5, 2011 the district standards.  court ruled that the strike was • International Union legal. Carlsberg Lithuania of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, management appealed this Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and decision. Then on August 5, 2011 Allied Workers’ Associations inSolidarity ~ Spring 2012 16 Taking on Canadian mining companies: Report from Chiapas Kaylan Bartholomew, Provincial Young Workers Committee, Vice-Chair.

The OPSEU Social Justice Fund supports some of the most vulnerable people and communities in Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, and Asia. The 2012 Solidarity Tour visited Chiapas, Mexico. Along with OPSEU communications Officer Emily Visser, I was privileged to meet with local people and humanitarian agency representatives in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas from February 6 to February 15, 2012. I’d like to tell Solidarity Tour in Chiapas, Mexico you about two areas in particular. (l-r) Niftali Perez Perez from Chicomuselo, The international development organization, Jose Luis Abarca, the son of assassinated Horizons of Friendship, organized the tour. mining activist Mariano Abarca, and Horizons has partner agencies throughout Central Kaylan Bartholomew, Region 1 PWC. America. One of the most powerful experiences was our of growing inequality and division causing tension visit with local activists from the small Chiapas even within families. town of Chicomuselo. Jose Luis Abarca told us Although Blackfire hotly denies it, but local about Blackfire, the Canadian mining company people talk of developing lesions from bathing in currently excavating in the mountains above his contaminated streams, drinking water spoiled by town. Blackfire security guards assassinated Jose mudslides during rain season, and a precarious Luis’ father, Mariano, in 2009 when he mobilized mountain of excavated earth towering above their the community to block the roads into his town. town. Documented evidence shows that Blackfire There are no laws governing misbehaviour has bought off local authorities and is illegally by Canadian companies in foreign countries. passing through protected land. Parliament voted down Bill C-300, the Company trucks that weight up to 80 tons Responsible Mining Act, in October, 2010. rumble through the centre of the town causing When Blackfire set up business in Chicomuselo, bridges, houses, and roads to crumble. Indeed, the company promised jobs, improved social it was Mariano Abarca’s efforts to mobilize services, and better roads. Those are powerful the community to block the passage of these promise in a small struggling town. Unfortunately, trucks that first brought him to the attention of they did more than break promises. They did Blackfire’s hired security guards. First arrested and serious damage to the community and the environment. The mining company is the source continued on page 18

17 inSolidarity ~ Spring 2012 continued from page 17 released, then followed and beaten up, he was finally assassinated by guards wearing shirts with the Blackfire logo. Since that time international support for the struggle of Chicomuselo has grown, and is greatly needed. Blackfire contributes daily to environmental and social problems of this region. Activists traveled four hours each way to share their story and struggle with our delegation. OPSEU and the labour movement have a A family home at the Zapatista farming special way to show support community of San Bartolomé for struggling workers. We explained this to Abarca and thanked them for allowing us to visit and and his companions and “passed the hat” – learn about their day-to-day lives. Zapatista “pasear el sombrero” – in a show of solidarity communities are generally closed to outsiders and union style. you need the permission of the Good Government Another highlight of the Chiapas tour was our Junta to be welcomed. visit to the autonomous Zapatista village, Fray Fray Bartholome centers around agriculture, Bartholome, home to only nine families. where families grow organic corn and beans, The Zapatistas are a left-wing group of squash and peas, and local native seeds. Though indigenous people. The 1994 Zapatista uprising they cannot grow enough on their small amount sought to defend the rights of indigenous people of land to feed the entire community, they are able and reclaim indigenous ownership of land and to exchange goods or services for what they need. local resources. . Two years later, the federal The community is trying to be self-sustaining by government and the Zapatistas reached an learning better farming practices through Social agreement called the San Andres Accord. It was and Economic Development for Indigenous intended to protect the rights and further the cause Mexicans (DESMI) training sessions, which of the indigenous people of Chiapas. everyone in the community attends. Horizons of The Zapatistas formed “autonomous Friendship and OPSEU support DESMI. communities” because the Mexican Government As a child and youth worker, I was very failed to honour several of its obligations under interested to hear about and witness the lives of the accord. . These communities receive no support the children in this small community. The children or social assistance from the government. Run by attend school daily to learn languages, math, social the Zapatistas, they follow their own government studies, health, agriculture, history, and science system, which they call the Good Government. An “education promoter” from the Junta teaches Made up of members of the community, the everyone in one room. central decision-makers change every three years.. School supplies are scarce as the community The entire community of Fray Bartholome has very little money to purchase them, so I was welcomed us in their little one-room school house. glad I could bring some to help out. After school, We were met all of the community members the children help with the household, childcare,

inSolidarity ~ Spring 2012 18 cooking, and working the land. know we are not alone. People in neighbouring After the talk at the school, the leaders and communities have seen that you came to visit adults took our delegation on a community tour. us here. All around us people know we have I got sidetracked playing games and picking international support. Thank you.”  flowers with the children. As a result, I think Emily and I got the best tour. The children were very proud of where they live and enjoyed showing us their homes and livestock. They also had fun For more information and to find out what you trying to teach me the names of everything in can do to support communities like Chicomuselo, Spanish. Although the children could not speak visit www.miningwatch.ca. OPSEU’s Social Justice English and I can’t speak Spanish we were able to communicate just fine with gestures and smiles. I Fund supports Mining Watch Canada’s campaign sang songs to them and taught them some hand for accountability of Canadian mining companies games. I was sad to leave as I was having such a operating in other countries. good time. The visit ended with hugs, laughs and smiles. It was endearing that as I left the children Information on the Zapatista movement: http:// were running up to get one last hug or bring me more flowers. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zapatista_Army_of_ The people of Fray Bartholome were extremely National Liberation grateful for our visit and the support we provide through the DESMI. Their words helped me to For more photos and reports from the OPSEU understand the importance of the work done Solidarity trip to Chiapas, please visit the through the OPSEU Social Justice Fund and partner organizations: “It gives us strength to blog. http://www.opseu-chiapas.blogspot.com.

Picture of an autonomous farm drawn by a student at the Zapatista farming community of San Bartolomé de las Casas.

19 inSolidarity ~ Spring 2012 OPSEU RESOURCE CENTRE ask to speak to Smokey Thomas because that is the person they’re most familiar with when they actually need to talk to someone in the Health and Safety Unit,” says Nicole. “It’s about getting all First the information from the caller, and then providing a bit of education on how the union works.” Educating members on OPSEU, its structure, and how services are provided is a crucial part of Contact the job. A small investment of time can pay big It’s 8:02 a.m. The phones have already started dividends down the road. ringing on this Wednesday morning, and a Representative Marisa says members often Resource Centre Representative takes her first call don’t know where to turn when they need help. of the day. “We try to walk them through the stages - first, “Can you tell me if my expense cheque has been contacting their local executive, or, depending on sent to me yet?” the problem, putting them in touch with their local It’s a fairly routine question for the Resource Staff Representative. Although our activists view Centre. Once the member’s name, address and this as second nature, members who don’t have local number has been verified, it just takes a few regular contact with the union often need extra clicks of the mouse to tell the member that the time to learn the steps.” cheque was processed two days earlier, and is on Regardless of the nature of the call, the first the way. priority for all of the Resource Centre Reps is to The OPSEU Resource Centre, now in its ensure the privacy and confidentiality of members’ seventh year of operation, has come a long way from its roots. Handling hundreds of calls per day, Resource Centre Representatives are the point of first contact for members, staff and the public. But don’t be mistaken… this is no high-tech switchboard. Representatives are trained to handle all kinds of inquiries: status of grievances, expense claims, what union resources are available, help to fill out forms, where to find information on the website, dates and locations for meetings, and whether a member has been accepted to attend an educational. But, the biggest job of all is getting callers connected to the right staff person or elected official. That can One of the tasks: Guiding members be a challenge, says Nicole, who has through the OPSEU website worked in the centre for three years. “Often, a member will call in and

inSolidarity ~ Spring 2012 20 information. This can often lead to frustration for callers, but it is a vital part of the process. “One of the biggest complaints we receive is that we need to identify the callers and then try to update their personal information before moving ahead with the reason for the call,” says Cynthia, one of the first staff to become a Resource Centre Representative. “If the person won’t give their name, we don’t know who we’re talking to, and can’t help them get to the right resources. We have to make sure we are actually talking to a member, and not an employer or member of the public or the media.” Ready to assist (Clockwise from top left): Updating member information is also a Carol, Nadia, Marisa, Sue and Nicole high priority. Representatives are supposed to do this with every member calling in so that the union always has the latest Course. Some have called to ask which colour of information. “During the CAAT Support strike the grievance form should be faxed to OPSEU. it was obvious many members didn’t have their “The calls that always cause us to shake our contact information up to date,” says Cynthia. heads a bit are the members who call to ask for a “We were flooded with calls from members who particular phone number,” says Carol, a 12-year weren’t getting critical information. Many think employee. “Just as soon as we start to give it to that by giving their employer updated addresses, them, they say ‘Wait! I need to find a pen!’ Weren’t phone numbers and e-mail that the union gets it they anticipating needing one?” too. We don’t.” However, one of the all-time champions was With most union information now going out a woman who wanted to become an OPSEU electronically, often the biggest hindrance is member, especially because members get good members who list only an employer e-mail address deals on cell phones. While OPSEU always for contact. Members are reminded that many welcomes new members, this one could have been employers block e-mail coming from OPSEU, problematic: she was self-employed. “It wasn’t and also have the full legal right to monitor any until I asked her who OPSEU would sit with at employee’s work e-mail account. the bargaining table to negotiate her contract with No matter what the question or issue, the that she finally understood,” Carol said. Representatives do their best to remain calm For many calls, all it takes is knowledge, patience and cool during the calls. “Sometimes members and a bit of compassion to get the member what are calling who are quite angry or upset,” they need. Representative Toni says. “We understand that. We “We use our own judgment on what to ask, and try to calm the person down, and do our best to how far we can go,” said Sue, one of the bilingual help.” Representatives. “We do our best to respect the That doesn’t mean that the Resource Centre member’s privacy, especially when dealing with doesn’t get its fair share of calls that could be best equity, human rights and harassment issues. described as, well, odd. One member wanted to We also continually assure members that their sign up for OPSEU’s “Bowling Course.” It took a personal information is held in strict privacy, and bit of time to explain it was actually the Bullying continued on page 23

21 inSolidarity ~ Spring 2012 Health and Safety Act and the Law Your Right to Know

Nancy Hart-Day, In Solidarity it is often understood there are things we endure, and are inherent parts of the job. Yes, we use In October of 2011, I had the privilege of universal precautions to keep ourselves safe, but attending a two-week course, Health and Safety nothing stops an inmate from covering their cell and the Law, through the Workers Health and doors, walls, and floor with feces. We have no Safety Centre. specialized team to come in and sanitize the area. Not only did I have knowledgeable instructor It is expected that either a staff member or an named Noeline, but I was also able to establish a inmate will clean the area with a biohazard kit so network of friends I can call upon for resources. the cell can be reused. Our cells are not made of Through this course, I was able to learn how steel but porous concrete blocks. Are you getting to read and understand the language of the my drift? . . . pun intended. Occupational Health and Safety Act. Who knew We used to escort inmates in the public, by there was such a difference between the words ourselves, via a taxi service. However, due to “may” and “shall”? I didn’t! the sacrifices made by the courageous staff who Let me give you my perspective. I am a had to endure this process (which was viewed as correctional officer in a maximum-security facility. “inherent” in our job), we now have bullet proof “May” is just a polite way of saying “shall”. So, vests, pepper spray, handcuffs, and expandable once I got my head out of the institution and batons to escort inmates in the community. All opened my eyes and ears, and shut my mouth, I of these wins have come from grassroots work had a great deal to learn. – concerns, complaints, refusals – in health and Often, people are bored with health and safety safety. The Provincial Joint Health and Safety issues because Committee fought for these changes, but it was the they don’t worker who paid the price for that change through understand the years of unsafe working conditions. it, or they In Corrections, we don’t have our own don’t think regulations under the OHSA, unlike the it applies Health Care and residential facilities, teachers, to them, or constructions, mining workers, farmers and they believe firefighters. We have the Industrial Establishment it’s part of Act which we are to use, however it’s not work- their job. As specific to Corrections. Maybe one day that will a Corrections change, and Corrections will have their own employee, regulations under the Act. In the meantime, people working with need to know their rights under OSHA. the inmate The employer will often blame the worker for population, accidents instead of looking at the issue at hand. inSolidarity ~ Spring 2012 22 One of the crucial things I learned during this course was this: to get to the cause of an accident and learn about hazards in the workplace, keep asking yourself why until you can’t answer it anymore. “The Employer will For example: often blame the Question: Why did the employee fall? Answer: The employee fell because there was a worker for accidents box there and she tripped over it. instead of looking at Question: Why was the box there? Answer: Because someone dropped it off and put the issue at hand” it there.

Question: Why did someone drop it off at that spot? determine the cause of an accident and identify a Answer: There was no other place to put it. hazard. The OPSEU website has a great tool about Question: Why don’t we have a designated spot knowing your rights. It’s handy, resourceful, and for these boxes? informative. In it there are links to the OHSA, and Answer: I don’t know. regulation and guides. It’s called A Worker’s Guide to the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Get So, what caused the injury? Not having a it at http://www.opseu.org/hands/workers-guide- designated area to drop off boxes. Sometimes OHSA.htm. Read it. Know it. It’s your right!  a simple piece of information can help you

First Contact And that was the whole premise all along, and continued from page 21 one of the biggest reasons the OPSEU Resource the employer is never given any information.” Centre was created back in 2005: person-to- Sue says Reps often explain the limits of their person contact with the union. “One of the biggest roles. “For example, we can tell members where to drawbacks to communications progress is people find particular issues in their collective agreement, are tired of pressing buttons for menus, leaving but we are not allowed to give any advice or messages, or simply not finding a live voice to talk interpretations. That’s the role of staff reps or to,” says Nadia. “We want members to always negotiators. We are also not allowed to give out have someone to talk to, to listen to their story, staff extensions or cell phone numbers. However, and to help them with their issue. That’s what we staff can electronically post where they are or how do. Although not every caller is satisfied, we try to they can be reached if they are not in the office, so make their experience as positive as we can from that makes it easier for us to contact them. Many the time we answer the phone.” members don’t want to get voice mail. We do For OPSEU, and the 130,000 members it serves, everything possible to get them connected with a positive experiences are what belonging to a union live person.” is all about. 

23 inSolidarity ~ Spring 2012 Protections during probation

Even when the economy is lousy, a lot of defending a “bad” worker right away. employers still have to hire people to replace So a myth develops that, during a probation at least some of their retirees and quits. That’s period, the union can’t do anything for a worker. the good news for some people, especially if the employer is a unionized workplace. With new Wrong. hires, though, comes an old problem: what about the probation period? At the same time, a union security agreement There’s a common misunderstanding that centers in the contract may compel a new worker to join around unions, contracts, new workers and the union long before the probationary period probationary periods. The situation is this: There is up, creating more friction. The lament of the is a probationary period in every contract, usually probationary worker is: “If the union can’t do running anywhere from 30 days to two years. The anything for me, why do I have to pay dues?” language of the contract usually blocks the union from challenging the discharge of a probationary Wrong again. worker during the period. The understanding is that the boss wants to take a look at new people It is essential for stewards, who are the first before deciding whether to keep them, while the point of contact for new workers, to understand union doesn’t want the trouble and expense of all the things that come with a union contract and union strength in the workplace. Stewards must be able to explain how these things cover even a new worker.

Describe the Benefits From the moment a new worker hits the time clock for the very first time, there are enormous benefits to being under a union contract. Here are just some of them, and stewards should be prepared to reel them off to new workers. Because you’re working in a unionized workplace, starting pay is generally much higher than minimum wage, with guaranteed wage progressions built into the contract. A worker may get one of these automatic step increases inSolidarity ~ Spring 2012 24 well before the end of a is all part of the process of probationary period, but it turning a new worker into a comes because the contract “Benefits that flow solid union member. requires it, not because a boss from the contract takes a liking to you. Another Benefit Most union contracts are not a gift from Probationary workers provide time and a half after the boss but are the immediately gain the eight hours. So new workers, protection of the union on the very first day on result of hard work, organization in the workplace. the job, will be entitled to sacrifice and solid Who better than a steward to overtime if they work beyond protect a new worker against the normal work day. In fact, union organization.” unsafe working conditions by getting overtime pay for or against an abusive just one shift, an individual supervisor – and on the very worker may pocket more first day of work! Or who than an entire month’s worth better than a steward to tell of union dues – a clear sign a probationary worker about of the cash value of a union workers compensation or contract. about the right to full break Many union contacts allow periods. Or to make sure that all workers – including the the probationary worker is probationary workers – to not subjected to any of the get paid holidays. Or to gain forms of discrimination that coverage under a health are specifically banned by the insurance plan, or to pick up union contract. any of the other economic benefits that the union So, the union is well worth the dues money has negotiated. for every worker, even if there are limits in the As a contrast, remember that the laws require contract on grieving a discharge. that a boss provide a worker only with the So an alert steward will let every new hire know minimum wage required by law, time and a that all the terms and conditions of the contract half over 40 hours in a week, and workers’ apply, and that the benefits that flow from the compensation. contract are not a gift from the boss but are the result of hard work, sacrifice and solid union Educate New Workers organization. A probationary worker should be For a steward, it is important to deal with the glad for the chance to get the benefits – and to pay ignorance of most probationary workers about union dues as part of the bargain.  their union. After all, workers have been taught in school, and often at home, that “Big Labour” is Bill Barry. The writer is director of labour studies only after your money. New hires are brainwashed for the Community College of Baltimore (MD) into believing that any benefits they get are a gift County. of a generous and benevolent boss. The phrase that tips off their thinking is “The company gives us…” A shrewd steward will immediately, but not *** This article is reprinted courtesy of Union Communications Services Inc., 1633 Connecticut belligerently, challenge this statement. It is really Ave. NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20009. To helpful if the union has prepared a new member order a subscription, you can call 1-800-321-2545. kit, welcoming new hires and showing how each By agreement between In Solidarity and Union improvement was won through tough negotiations Communications Services, this material may not be and even through sacrifices, such as a strike. This reproduced. ***

25 inSolidarity ~ Spring 2012 Scholarship funds empower the next generation

It is estimated that more than 30 per cent of the current workforce will be in a position to retire within the next five years. By 2040, the number of workers to non-workers will drop from 5:1 to 2:1, according to Statistics Canada. With such staggering statistics, succession planning may be lost as the knowledge base and living memory exits the workplace. To ensure that the labour movement succeeds for years to come, that education needs to be shared with the next generation. It is also important to encourage future activists to be socially aware and responsible. The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) and the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) offer scholarships for the children of members attending post-secondary education, all centered on labour and social justice health and safety issues in the workplace. The issues. deadline to apply for the $1,000 award is August Applications may include the requirement for a 1 of each year. written submission or essay. Application deadlines Bishop dedicated more than two decades to vary. improving health and safety in the workplace. OPSEU has five scholarships to offer: From Local 678 (Algoma Treatment and Remand The OPSEU Global Solidarity Fund brings Center), Bishop died in June 2008. awareness to HIV/AIDS and international worker The HPD (Hospital Professionals Division) solidarity. The deadline to apply for the $1,000 Scholarship Fund offers seven awards of $750 award is June 15 of each year. each – one for each region – to post-secondary The Larry Cripps Scholarship Fund was students enrolled in a Hospital Professionals established in memory of Cripps, a Correctional program. The deadline to apply is September 1 of Officer and long-time union activist who passed each year. away in 2004. The Carol McGregor Scholarship Fund is The $2,000 award is open to post-secondary available to those with visible or invisible students enrolled in corrections services or police disabilities. Applications for the $3,000 award foundations courses. The deadline to apply is June must be received by September 15 of each year. 15 of each year. McGregor was a seasoned activist who fought The Curt Bishop Scholarship Fund focuses on tireless for disability rights. She died in 2006. inSolidarity ~ Spring 2012 26 The Rainbow Connection

Lisa Bicum, In Solidarity magazine (a must read!), and the colourful history of the rainbow flag was described. This past July, my children and I were walking In the late 1970s, Gilbert Baker, a retired soldier through Toronto’s Church-Wellesley Village living in California, had taught himself to sew shortly after this summer’s Pride Parade. The and was making costumes for drag performances Village was bedecked in rainbow flags. My kids and banners for gay rights protests. He befriended commented on all of the flags and how beautiful political organizer Harvey Milk, who asked Baker the rainbows were and wondered what they were to create a symbol for the gay rights movement for. I reminded them that families come in all of that time. Baker chose the rainbow which he shapes, sizes, and formations, and about the Pride believed would reflect the diversity of the LGBT Toronto movement to which they responded, community. The rainbow flag was first flown at the “Cool!” There was one question I couldn’t answer: San Francisco gay pride parade June 25, 1978. A Why the rainbow? few months later, Harvey Milk was assassinated, The answer came to me many months later and the flag lived on as a symbol for gay rights.  when I was reading the latest issue of Mental Floss Scholarships To find out more about OPSEU scholarships, asks applicants to discuss the importance of including requirements and how to apply, visit: quality public service to enhancing the quality of http://www.opseu.org/notices/opseuscholar.htm. life for Aboriginal Canadians. NUPGE offers four scholarships. Each is for The Visible Minorities Scholarship Fund asks $1,500. The deadline is June 30 of each year. applicants to discuss the importance of quality The Tommy Douglas Scholarship Fund asks public services for visible minorities. applicants to discuss how Tommy Douglas For more information about these NUPGE contributed making Canada more just and scholarships, including application requirements, equitable society. visit http://www.nupge.ca/scholarships. The Terry Fox Scholarship Fund asks applicants The OFL offers two scholarships worth $2,000 to discuss the importance of quality public services each. Details about the scholarships, including to enhancing the quality of life for people with application requirements and deadlines, will disabilities. be available in early April 2012. For more The Aboriginal Canadians Scholarship Fund information, visit www.ofl.ca. 

27 inSolidarity ~ Spring 2012 Lisa Bicum, In Solidarity

Workplace injury and death: The Canadian Center for Pledge those are words none of us ever Occupational Health and Safety wants hear. However, the reality (CCOHS) hopes that we all is that in 2009, 939 workplace will give this day some serious to fight deaths were registered with thought. The CCOHS strongly workers’ compensation boards promotes the annual recognition across Canada (Number of of this day so that we will for Fatalities, by Jurisdiction, 1993- work together to establish 2009). Although we strive to safe working conditions for be safe, accidents happen, and all. In their promotion of this our workplaces may cause us to important day, the CCOHS has health become seriously ill. created several resources to help You may be asking yourself us spread the word. what you can do. Apart from Let’s do our part. Find out and striving to be safe in our daily what activities are scheduled work, we can set time aside to for your community. Contact remember those who have been CCOHS for a poster or injured, become seriously ill, or some promotional items. In safety who have died on the job. In remembrance of those who 1991, the federal government have died, been injured, or have officially recognized April become ill because of workplace 28 as the National Day of hazards, let us pledge to fight for Mourning, and each year in our improved health and safety in communities, commemorative the workplace. events are held to mark this For more information, contact day. On Parliament Hill, the the CCOHS at 1-800-668-4284 Canadian flag will fly at half or visit http://www.ccohs.ca/ mast, and workers all over the ccohs/inquiries Also, a quick country will light candles, wear Google search will help you ribbons, and observe moments find what is going on in your of silence. community. 

Ontario Public Service Employees Union 100 Lesmill Road, Toronto, Ontario. M3B 3P8 www.opseu.org / www.sefpo.org

ISSN 1201-5245