Friday, December 16, 2016
I am honoured to have been re-elected to a second term as your President and I look forward to working with a strong Executive team and a dynamic Board of Directors elected from our new District model.
Our recent annual convention also brought together more than 200 delegates for educational sessions, elections, and vigorous debate on several policy motions and resolutions. Delegates voted to adopt a balanced budget that invests in member education and engagement – a critical priority as we ramp up for Ontario Public Service bargaining which will start in just 12 months. And also of key note, Delegates voted to affiliate with the Ontario Federation of Labour and Labour Councils across the province.
The year ahead is a crucial one for AMAPCEO. Over the coming months, a major focus of mine and our new Board will be to ensure our new governance structure receives the attention and care it will need to thrive. Vice President Cynthia Watt, Secretary Glynn Robinson and I, along with your local District Directors will be conducting meetings in workplaces across the province between early January and early February. We’ll be speaking with members about opportunities to get more involved in the union; whether as Workplace Reps, local building activists or running to become Delegates in the upcoming District executive elections, scheduled for mid-February.
As I outlined for Delegates in my opening remarks at our ADC, Ontario faces huge social and economic challenges – from the costs of high housing and childcare, to an economic “recovery” that seems to be leaving many people behind, to the skyrocketing costs of privatized hydro rates. Those challenges point to political uncertainty in this province, which will no doubt have a direct impact on the working conditions of our members and the public services Ontarians rely on. The next election is scheduled to be held just weeks after our OPS collective agreement expires.
After years of below-inflation wage increases, we are preparing for a tough round of collective bargaining in the OPS. We will be looking for the Employer to make investments in public services and for fair economic increases for our members. Over the coming months, we’ll be engaging our OPS members to learn more about your bargaining priorities, and to build a cohesive activist base throughout all of our workplaces in support of helping us achieve our goals.
Please enjoy our final newsletter of 2016, which includes information on our recent Annual Delegates Conference, our recent affiliation with the Ontario Federation of Labour, and how you can get involved in your union as a delegate in 2017!
All the best for a safe and happy holiday break.
Dave Bulmer, President