Jeff Arbus OPSEU EBM Region 6

Along with continuing actions to privatize Service Ontario, there is a very real possibility of Service Ontario taking over other programs including social housing, social assistance, and ODSP. Privatizing Service Ontario is wrong-headed. Moving essential public services to the private sector has been shown to disenfranchise the most vulnerable in our communities, the recipients of these basic services. Correcting the provincial deficit on the backs of the most vulnerable, all the while propping up CEO’s with tax cuts and fat bonuses, is not the way to go. Don Drummond might think this is ok. We don’t agree. People are responding by supporting the Commission on Quality Public Services and Tax Fairness. Province-wide hearings and town hall meetings are under way. Speak out in support of public services. The next hearings are in London on January 11 followed by hearings and a town hall in Ottawa on January 16. Join us in the fight for quality public services. www.standupontario.org

Friends, Sisters, Brothers, thanks for the support you have given me in the year just ending.

All the best of my wishes to you and your loved ones, for the coming year.

In lieu of cards, I am making a donation to the Region 6 Hardship Fund and also to the Live and Let Live Fund.

In solidarity,

Jeff

“December 6 is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women in Canada. Established in 1991 by the Parliament of Canada, this day marks the anniversary of the murders in 1989 of 14 young women at l’École Polytechnique de Montréal. They died because they were women.”

As the group “Status of Women Canada” so rightly puts it, “December 6 represents an opportunity for Canadians to reflect on the phenomenon of violence against women in our society. It is also an opportunity to consider the women and girls for whom violence is a daily reality, and to remember those who have died as a result of gender-based violence. And finally, it is a day on which communities can consider concrete actions to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls.”

This is also a day for men and women to give thought to issues of male-dominance and power; to understand the perpetuation of violence directed at the vulnerable; and to resolve to take actions to eliminate gender-based violence, discrimination, and marginalization.

OPSEU upholds the important and lofty goals of equity, at all levels and in all humanly-possible ways. We start each meeting with the Statement of Respect, and we build from there. Our equity groups provide a focus for our ideas, energies, and campaigns for equity. And each of us, individually as members and through our Locals and other structures, has an important role to play. Each of us can examine the various outcroppings of gender-based discrimination, as they affect our daily working lives, and resolve to change those circumstances, now.

With the support of our sisters and brothers, we can create a better world. We may not achieve all our goals today, but we can take the steps needed to make today better than yesterday.

This day reminds us of the goals we strive to achieve. Let’s use it wisely. Let’s build that better world.

Even silence speaks
Two minutes OF SILENCE
November 24 at 11 a.m. in every OPS workplace
The cuts to public services continue.
>> 231 layoff notices were issued on November 17. Many of these people are long-serving employees with families.
>> 650 jobs in total have been lost in 2011 and more layoffs are coming.
>> More than 20,000 OPS positions have been cut, privatized or divested in the past 15 years.
It’s about more than our members. It’s about public services. Here are some impacts of the cuts so far:
>> Elimination of the Special Services at Home Program for adults with developmental disabilities.
>> Delays in processing vital court documents like restraining orders, divorce papers and court orders for child and spousal support.
>> Inability to provide timely and accurate information to enforcement officers monitoring road and vehicle safety.
>> Elimination of staff responsible for ensuring local governments follow legislation when delivering tens of millions of dollars in
social assistance.
>> Drinking water inspectors cut at five locations: London, Windsor, Ajax, Cornwall and Toronto.
>> Elimination of several frontline scientific and technical experts on environmental issues.
>> A reduction in the number of staff regulating pay day loan companies, collection agencies and credit bureaus.
>>Delays in processing claims from health care providers.
Public service cuts hurt everyone.
On November 24 at 11 a.m., join OPSEU members in Ontario Public Service workplaces for two minutes of silence. Show solidarity for colleagues affected by the job cuts and for the impact it will have on our communities. a message from Chris Cormier, CERC Vice-Chair

Important letter for OPS members and their supporters

http://opseuregion6.com/Region_6_Web_Page/Region_6_News/Region_6_News.html

The 99% prevail. http://occupywallst.org/article/victory-99-ohio/

Opening of OPSEU New Liskeard Office

The Liberal government veered sharply to the right in the 2011 Ontario Budget announcing plans for further job cuts and privatization in the OPS. The Liberal Budget echoes the neo-conservative rhetoric that  public services are bloated and wasteful. The Budget was a continuation of attacks on the OPS.
In the 2009 Budget, the government committed to reducing the size of  the OPS by 5 per cent –  approximately 3,400 full-time positions - by March 31, 2012, through attrition, vacancy management and layoffs.
 In the 2011 Budget, the government made a further commitment to reduce the size of the OPS by another 1,500 positions fromApril 2012 to March 2014.
Since January 2011, 417 OPSEU members have received surplus notices.
In this election, vote to put a stop to these attacks on the public service.

THE LIBERAL PLAN
As outined in the 2011 Ontario budget and their election platform.
- Spending cuts of at least $1.5 billion in 3 years
- Privatize ServiceOntario - Slash a further 1,500 jobs by 2014

THE CONSERVATIVE PLAN
As outlined in their election platform.
 - Privatize government assets
 - Slash an undisclosed number of jobs
 - Make the public and private sectors compete for government contracts

Are these the type of governments that you want to run the Province of  Ontario? Lets Fight to Preserve Our Public Services! We can make a  difference! Please vote for the Ontario you want.