Q and A questions

President

The following are the unedited questions submitted for presidential candidates:

Do you support excluding members serving in acting positions?
Have you ever secretly gathered evidence against a member of your own union, and provided that evidence to the employer? If yes, please describe the circumstances and explain why you did this.
If elected, what will be your strategy to resolve OPSSU’s ULPs?
Recently our employer waived posting and testing provisions. This was done without the endorsement of our union and with the “name” of equity. However, the equity committee was not consulted either. If this situation was to happen again, and you were to be elected President what steps would you have taken to address this situation? Be specific.”
What is the position regarding the sustainability of our Union as our employer continues to allegedly violate and erode our collective agreement. What is your position regarding the membership’s desire (or lack of) regarding a possible Union merger?
our employer has refused to meet at EERC for over 3 years. in addition; the mediation attempts under Med/Arb Gerry Lee were not successful. If the employer continues to refuse to meet at EERC AND engage in positive relations (or any labour relations at all), how would you handle it and what steps would you take? Please be specific and to the point.”
what do you think is the biggest barrier Racialized employees encounter today and how would you address this with our employer?
it has become evident to me that tokenism, sexism, nepotism, etc. Have become the norm in this corporation. What would you do to address this with our employer and provide at least 2 examples of how this can be remedied?
What is your past involvement with SSU and how will that inform your work in the future?
What will be your approach to the outstanding grievances?
What are your goals for SSU?
We have had several Duty of fair representation charges filed against our union over the past year. How do you plan to address the clear dissatisfactions from our members in terms of how they feel they are being represented?’
What positions have you held in OPSSU and how did they prepare you to lead it? If you have not held a position in OPSSU before, why not?
Do you intend to work out of the OPSSU office at head office once we return to the workplace?
Can you give an example of how you have shown your solidarity with OPSSU members in the past?
The President of OPSSU is booked off full-time from their OPSEU position- what do you see the daily work of the President being?
In 2016 under a different executive, OPSSU filed a ULP because OPSEU fired the bargaining team chair, that ULP was settled. After it was settled, OPSEU suspended five SSU members from the IT unit, and fired three SSU leaders. Again we filed a ULP complaint against OPSEU that was settled. Both times the parties committed to working better together afterwards. We all hoped when a new executive was elected in 2017 that they would be able to work with OPSEU. However, OPSEU is still targeting and terminating OPSSU leaders. Do you think it was the right move strategically to settle those ULPs, and should we really expect a change in treatment if we settle a third ULP or should we hold the line now?
Would you consider changing our legal counsel in the midst of ongoing grievances & ULPs? If so, why or why not?
How do you intend to work with the elected leadership of SSU, such as committee chairs?
Are there any priority items you seek to address with the assistance of SSU committees? If so, what are they?
There are increasing demands to work from home for pro-tech staff. We have proven our ability to meet the needs of the members fully while being 100% remote. There are other important reasons that justify a continuing ability to work from home such as: we are still in a pandemic, increased wellness and balance with the ability to reduce commute time, increase focus and quiet time, increased staff retention etc. Many employers have introduced a three day return to office in order to reduce high traffic in offices. Even prior to the pandemic many employers had a one-day standing work at home day (if not more). How does the candidate, if elected, intend to address this issue?
How do you intend to work with the leadership of SSU, such as Committee Chairs?
If elected how do you intent to address our pension shortfall and staff vacancies?
How do you correct the issue that we are spending more money in legal fees then we are taking in on dues while having 2 full time book offs. Is there a point to having book off positions if there work is farmed out?
How are you going to repair labour relations between OPSSU and OPSEU?
After Multiple DFR’s filed against our union, how do you address the dissatisfaction from our members on how they are being represented?
What is your position on members who willfully share information with the employer that harms another member or multiple members, and have you ever done this?
When the employer refuses to meet for an EERC meeting, how will you force them to respond and meet with the union?
I have heard accusations of dropping grievances against board members and sectors. This is not enough information for me to form an opinion. Can you please explain this, and tell me what should have been done differently?
Since being a member of SSU (whether temp or perm), have you ever provided information/documentation to the employer about another member of SSU that could have or did result in disciplinary action? Why or why not?
Please explain your position on the ULP’s, and if elected how you plan to move them forward?
Please explain all positions you have held on any LEC, and your past experience representing members of your local (this excludes representation done for work purposes).
In your view, why do members pay union dues?
What did you do prior to working for OPSEU?
Since being a member of SSU (whether temp or perm), have you ever provided information/documentation to the employer about another member of SSU that could have or did result in disciplinary action? Why or why not?
Please explain your position on the ULP’s, and if elected how you plan to move them forward?
Please explain all positions you have held on any LEC, and your past experience representing members of your local (this excludes representation done for work purposes).
In your view, why do members pay union dues?
What did you do prior to working for OPSEU?
Since being a member of SSU (whether temp or perm), have you ever provided information/documentation to the employer about another member of SSU that could have or did result in disciplinary action? Why or why not?
Please explain your position on the ULP’s, and if elected how you plan to move them forward?
Please explain all positions you have held on any LEC, and your past experience representing members of your local (this excludes representation done for work purposes).
In your view, why do members pay union dues?
What did you do prior to working for OPSEU?
Since being a member of SSU (whether temp or perm), have you ever provided information/documentation to the employer about another member of SSU that could have or did result in disciplinary action? Why or why not?
Please explain your position on the ULP’s, and if elected how you plan to move them forward?
Please explain all positions you have held on any LEC, and your past experience representing members of your local (this excludes representation done for work purposes).
In your view, why do members pay union dues?
What did you do prior to working for OPSEU?
Do you think stewards or other elected members of the executive who are trained to do so should be handling some of our arbitations?
How concerned are you about our finances?
How do you plan to move the parties back to a functioning relationship?
Do you agree that there are barriers in our processess for members to be involved, and if so, what will you do about that?

Treasurer

The following are the unedited questions submitted for treasurer candidates:

The financial health of the union has been an ongoing subject at GMMs, do you have a plan or strategy to ensure the short-term financial health of the union?
The financial health of the union has been an ongoing subject at GMMs, do you have a plan or strategy to ensure the long-term financial health of the union?
Do you have any backgrounds that are applicable to the role of treasurer? If so, what are those backgrounds?
Have you served in any other leadership capacity in this union, or another bargaining unit? How has that prepared you for this role?
Why do you want the position of treasurer?
You will have voice and vote on the Executive Committee as it relates to matters unrelated to treasurer tasks. What can you bring to these discussions and how do you plan to use your voice and vote to represent the membership?
If elected how do you intend to address the staff pension shortfall and staff vacancies?
We have seen some cost savings by holding virtual meetings due to the pandemic. Should we be able to resume in person meetings in 2022, what is your plan for ensuring that OPSSU does not incur a deficit of funds?
A prior Treasurer recommended changing our policies to reduce some of the expenses that the Union reimburses to members/retirees in order to reduce costs. Do you agree or disagree with that strategy?