Hello Again Sisters & Brothers

First, I hope you have had an enjoyable Spring, despite Mother Nature’s reluctance to allow Winter to return to hibernation.

I would like to take this moment to provide an update to the membership on the status of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement since the post made on January 23, 2019.

Thanks to the continued work and dedication behind the curtains, I am happy to report that the Ratified Version of the New Collective Agreement, between the AGCO (The Employer) and OPSEU Local 565 (The Union) is now available for viewing and download. As always, we ask that you take a moment to review and, if necessary, forward any questions or comments accordingly.

Please note that the bargaining team will continue to communicate and share updates through this bargaining bulletin, as bargaining progresses. Also, please be aware that all communications will be sent by e-mail and posted on the Local website. Please check with your co-workers to ensure that they are receiving this update. If not please have them contact one of the Bargaining team members or a union steward to update their home e-mail address.

In Solidarity,

Nigel Edwards  – President – nigel.edwardsr@gmail.com

OPSEU Local 565

Representing members working for the AGCO

The elected Local 565 Executive committee would like to thank all of our members who attended and participated in our first teletown hall conference call to conduct and manage our general membership meeting and local elections.  It was a successful event!

Using tele-townhall technology members were not required to attend the GMM in person and participated fully in the election and meeting by using their cell phone touch pad to cast a ballot for each elected position and vote on Local 565 business.

We will continue to explore and utilize newer technologies to reach and engage our member locally and across the Province

Here are the 2019 Local 565 Executive Committee election results:

Executive Office

President	Nigel Edwards
Vice President	Lorne Blais
Chief Steward	Ben Rivera
Treasurer	Farrah Khan
Secretary	Ashourina Shamon

---

Trustee

1st Trustee	Barun Sarker
2nd Trustee	Alan Tam

---

Stewards

Maleeha Ali

Lorne Blais

Justin Black

Christian Boutillier

Dave Chiacchia

Mark Daniels

Thomas Dickinson

Andrew Edwards

Nigel Edwards

Sandi Folkes

Alvaro Gonzalez

Farrah Khan

Craig Landry

Thomas Lee

Jeff Minler

Melanie Murzeau

Arun Navaratnasingam

Amuthakaran Nithanandan

Ben Rivera

Ashourina Shamon

Andrew Watkins

Roger Yee

Gregory Zolotarev

---

Regional Meeting Delegates:

Nigel Edwards (Automatic)

Lorne Blais

Arun Navaratnasingam

---

Regional Meeting Alternates:

1.      Andrew Watkins

2.      Melanie Murzeau

3.      Nancy Grado

---

Convention Delegates:

Nigel Edwards (Automatic)

Farrah Khan

Lorne Blais

---

Convention Alternates:

1.      Ashourina Shamon

2.      Barun Sarker

3.      Melanie Murzeau

---

Please note that the bargaining team will continue to communicate and share updates through this bargaining bulletin, as bargaining progresses. Also, please be aware that all communications will be sent by e-mail and posted on the Local website. Please check with your co-workers to ensure that they are receiving this update. If not please have them contact one of the Bargaining team members or a union steward to update their home e-mail address.

In Solidarity,

Nigel Edwards  – President – nigel.edwardsr@gmail.com

OPSEU Local 565

Representing members working for the AGCO

Hello Sisters and Brothers to 2019!

First, I sincerely hope that your holidays and New Years were filled with rest and relaxation.

I would like to take the moment to update the membership on the status of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement since the post made on July 30, 2018.

Thanks to the substantial work that has occurred behind the scenes, I am happy to report that the Draft Copy of the New Collective Agreement, between the AGCO (The Employer) and OPSEU Local 565 (The Union), is now available for viewing. We ask that you please take a moment to review and, should you have any question, please forward them accordingly.

Please note that the bargaining team will continue to communicate and share updates through this bargaining bulletin, as bargaining progresses. Also, please be aware that all communications will be sent by e-mail and posted on the Local website. Please check with your co-workers to ensure that they are receiving this update. If not please have them contact one of the Bargaining team members or a union steward to update their home e-mail address.

In Solidarity,

Nigel Edwards  – President – nigel.edwardsr@gmail.com

OPSEU Local 565

Representing members working for the AGCO

Hello Sisters and Brothers,

I would like to take the moment to update the membership on the status of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

As previously communicated, OPSEU Local 565 negotiated a four (4) year agreement that was ratified by OPSEU local 565 members in April 2018 and confirmed by resolution from the AGCO Board of Directors.

The final process required before the new agreement takes effect is receiving approval through an Order-in-Council signed by the lieutenant Governor in Council. Unfortunately this was not possible until after the June 7^th provincial election and a government is sworn in.

On June 29, 2018, the new provincial government was sworn in. Since then the union has been in communication with the employer regarding the status of the CBA through the Order-in-Council and have been advised the Ministry of the Attorney General (MAG) has started the process to get all approvals. The expectation so far seems to be late summer/ fall. The employer has not been given a date yet but they will communicate it to the union once they do.

We will update our members accordingly when we receive further information from the employer.

 

In Solidarity,

Nigel Edwards  – President – nigel.edwardsr@gmail.com

Greeting Local 565 Members,

After the results were tallied from the Wednesday vote, with 73% for Approval, the Local 565 Union Members have voted to ratify the tentative agreement.  Please stay tuned for more information in the coming weeks.

The Bargaining Team will continue to communicate and share updates through this bargaining bulletin, as bargaining progresses. Also, please be aware that all communications will be sent by e-mail and posted on the Local website. Please check with your co-workers to ensure that they are receiving this update. If not please have them contact one of the Bargaining team members or a union steward to update their home e-mail address.

 

 

In Solidarity,

Nigel Edwards  – President – nigel.edwardsr@gmail.com
Sandi Folkes – Steward –sfolkes530@gmail.com
Justin Black – Steward – justinrblack@gmail.com
Roger Yee –  T&LS – r8yee@yahoo.com
Clint Ferguson – Chair – fergusoc42@gmial.com
Andrew Ruszczak – Staff Negotiator – aruszczak@opseu.org

 

Greetings Local 565 Members,

First, sincere apologies for the delayed update.

The reason for this important update pertains to the Union Meeting that took place on April 6th, 2018. The first item to note is the Meeting Minutes:

Local 565 Meeting Minutes – April 6, 2018 – PDF Version

Local 565 Meeting Minutes – April 6, 2018 – Word Version

The second item pertains to the Voting locations where Local 565 Members can make their say regarding the Bargaining negotiations. Please remember to bring the proper documentation (e.g. a piece of Government-issued photo ID, Your OPSEU/SEFPO Membership Card/Carte de membre.

Local 565 – 2018 AGCO Vote Location – Wednesday, April 11, 2018 – PDF Version

Local 565 – 2018 AGCO Vote Location – Wednesday, April 11, 2018 – Word Version

Good luck / Bonne chance with your decision; regardless of the choice, the most important thing will be that you exercise your right to make it.

 

Please note that the bargaining team will continue to communicate and share updates through this bargaining bulletin, as bargaining progresses. Also, please be aware that all communications will be sent by e-mail and posted on the Local website. Please check with your co-workers to ensure that they are receiving this update. If not please have them contact one of the Bargaining team members or a union steward to update their home e-mail address.

 

In Solidarity,

Nigel Edwards  – President – nigel.edwardsr@gmail.com
Sandi Folkes – Steward –sfolkes530@gmail.com
Justin Black – Steward – justinrblack@gmail.com
Roger Yee –  T&LS – r8yee@yahoo.com
Clint Ferguson – Chair – fergusoc42@gmial.com
Andrew Ruszczak – Staff Negotiator – aruszczak@opseu.org

Greetings Local 565 members,

In order to provide transparency regarding negotiations, the Bargaining Team has provided the Memorandum of Settlement between the Alcohol & Gaming Commission of Ontario (“The Employer”) and the Ontario Public Service Employees’ Union, On Behalf of Its Local 565 (“The Union”).  In order to ensure accessibility, the Team’s Information Bulletin has been uploaded to the website.

AGCO MOS 2018 Final – PDF Version

 

Please note that the bargaining team will continue to communicate and share updates through this bargaining bulletin, as bargaining progresses. Also, please be aware that all communications will be sent by e-mail and posted on the Local website. Please check with your co-workers to ensure that they are receiving this update. If not please have them contact one of the Bargaining team members or a union steward to update their home e-mail address.

 

In Solidarity,

Nigel Edwards  – President – nigel.edwardsr@gmail.com
Sandi Folkes – Steward –sfolkes530@gmail.com
Justin Black – Steward – justinrblack@gmail.com
Roger Yee –  T&LS – r8yee@yahoo.com
Clint Ferguson – Chair – fergusoc42@gmial.com
Andrew Ruszczak – Staff Negotiator – aruszczak@opseu.org

Greetings Local 565 members,

Happy Spring Season!

On March 24th, 2018, the Barganing Team sent out an email stating that a tenatitive agreement was reached with the Employer. In order to ensure accessabiity, the Team’s Information Bulletin has been uploaded to the website.

Summary of Changes 2018 – PDF Version

Summary of Changes 2018 – Word Version

Please note that the bargaining team will continue to communicate and share updates through this bargaining bulletin, as bargaining progresses. Also, please be aware that all communications will be sent by e-mail and posted on the Local website. Please check with your co-workers to ensure that they are receiving this update. If not please have them contact one of the Bargaining team members or a union steward to update their home e-mail address.

 

In Solidarity,

Nigel Edwards  – President – nigel.edwardsr@gmail.com
Sandi Folkes – Steward –sfolkes530@gmail.com
Justin Black – Steward – justinrblack@gmail.com
Roger Yee –  T&LS – r8yee@yahoo.com
Clint Ferguson – Chair – fergusoc42@gmial.com
Andrew Ruszczak – Staff Negotiator – aruszczak@opseu.org

 

Local 565 – The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) Jan. 15, 2018

Dear Local 565 Members,
Happy New Year!

As we start a New Year we wanted to provide you with an update on where we are in the bargaining process. Our Current Collective Agreement expired on December 31, 2017.

Preparation for bargaining began back this past summer when we were elected to be your Representatives on this year’s bargaining team. Surveys were sent out for your input on the priorities and demands in mid-October for this round of bargaining. We then served Notice to Bargain to the Employer on October 17, 2017.

Your Bargaining Conference was held on November 4, 2017 at the Chelsea Hotel in Toronto, where we had plenty of good discussions and interactions that helped shape our demands for this upcoming round of bargaining.

The bargaining team then met towards the end of November and began to prepare our Proposal Package. We reviewed the surveys you filled out and the priorities you identified to put together our proposals that addressed your concerns.

The first round of Bargaining took place last week in Toronto on January 9 and 10. Both Non-Monetary and Monetary demands where tabled by your Bargaining team. The Employer tabled their Non-Monetary Package.

What’s Next?

Future Bargaining dates have been confirmed:
March 6, 7 and 8
March 21 and 22

We have been receiving many questions from members on why we did not start bargaining sooner, however, scheduling of dates has been a challenge. Rest assured that when our current contract expired on December 31, 2017 all provisions within will still apply to all workers until either a new contract is negotiated or the parties reach a strike/lockout (following all the steps outlined in the Ontario Labour Relations Act).

The bargaining team will continue to communicate and share updates through this bargaining bulletin, as bargaining progresses. Also, please be aware that all communications will be sent by e-mail and posted on the Local website. Please check with your co-workers to ensure that they are receiving this update. If not please have them contact one of the Bargaining team members or a union steward to update their home e-mail address.

In Solidarity,

Clint Ferguson – Bargaining Team Chair – fergusoc42@gmail.com
Nigel Edwards – Local President – nigel.edwardsr@gmail.com
Sandi Folkes – sfolkes530@gmail.com
Roger Yee – r8yee@yahoo.com
Justin Black – justinrblack@gmail.com