Tuesday, January 31, 2017
We’re off to a busy and productive start to 2017. Our new, expanded, geographically represented Board held its first meeting on January 18 and 19th. As you’ll see in the enclosed article, it was a fruitful session, and included a substantial training and orientation session. We have also kicked off a month long “Meet Your District” tour, which includes 30 membership meetings occurring across the province over the final 20 days of January.
On January 21, I was proud to join with many fellow AMAPCEO members and tens of thousands of people who marched at Women’s March on Washington sister rallies across Ontario. The march sent an important message of global solidarity against the extreme misogyny, racism and homophobia of the new administration in the United States. More importantly, here in Canada, it reminded us all of the fragility of human rights advances accomplished here over several decades of advocacy.
Over the coming weeks, AMAPCEO’s priorities will be focused on rollout of our new RADAR database, preparation for our inaugural District Executive meetings in the Spring, delivery of initial Equity Forum, second annual BPS Forum and our first ever Activist and Leaders’ Forum in June.
At the same time, we are intensifying preparation for bargaining in our OPS unit, where our contract expires in just 14 months. As part of our District tour, we have engaged members in lively discussions about the bargaining process and how AMAPCEO OPS collective agreement priorities are established. Keep an eye on your inbox, where in the next few weeks OPS members will receive our first 2018 bargaining survey.
Later this Spring, we will conduct elections for our negotiating team and begin to construct our member engagement team, as well as conduct further consultations with members and activists. As I meet with members, a number of priorities are emerging. In addition to protecting our existing collective agreement, it is clear that members see improvements to our paramedical benefits plan as an important area to make gains. I have also heard a great deal of frustration with the long period of below-inflation wage increases.
Our message will be clear – Public Servants have done their part to help eliminate the deficit. It is simply unfair that, in real terms, Public Servants’ purchasing power today is less than it was in 2009. Public services matter. Public Servants deliver those services and in return expect respectful compensation for doing so.
As OPS bargaining looms closer, there will be many opportunities for engagement, and as always, we will rely on our AMAPCEO activists in the workplace. I know I can count on you to stay engaged and active in the coming months!