The London Free Press ran a story regarding a 30% raise for Council. Link

Our sincere condolences to Councillor Hopkins on the passing of her husband Bill.

Congratulations to our Housing members of Local 101! Their contract was ratified last night. What a great job their negotiating committee did!  They worked with the employer and came out with a great contract.

Steve Holland

The OMERS Sponsors Corporation (SC) is currently considering a plan to modify the 100%, guaranteed indexing benefit that exists in the OMERS plan text. CUPE Ontario members, who are also members of the OMERS Pension Plan, are letting the Board of the OMERS SC know how important the guarantee of 100% indexing is for their pension plan.

Send a letter today and let the Board know how important guaranteed indexing at OMERS is to your retirement income security.

Are you retiring?  Do you have a special birthday coming up? Are you graduating? Do you have an upcoming run you would like to tell us about or any other amazing achievement?
Let us know, send us a picture with your name and your occasion and we will post it as long as it is website friendly.
We would love to hear from our members.

cupe101.london@gmail.com

Skintegrity London – 10% of services and products (waxing’s, spa manicures, eyelash extensions, facials, etc.)
Blue Ivy Medi Spa  – 20% off all services (eyelash extensions) facials, Botox, makeup, etc.)
Sunningdale Wellness Centre – (Chiro/Physio/Orthotics) Call to inquire.
Auto Strada Auto – 10% off parts and labour
Natural Smiles – 15% off all services. Optical, audiology, dentures/dental hygiene
South London Pro Oil – 20% off all services – Coupons provided too
Auto Tech 2000 – Owner, Brian Loucks – 10% off parts and labour
Wet’n’Wild Toronto – 25% off regular admission tickets

This week, we are sorry to hear of the loss of Fred Upshaw, the first black unionist to lead a major Canadian union, and former OFL Executive Board member. We also invite you to join a very important telephone town hall meeting on Mar 7 at 7 p.m.

Fred Upshaw was a trailblazer and a dedicated trade unionist who led the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) from 1990 to 1995, securing wage increases for public employees and winning unit reform and human rights language in OPSEU contracts. He was the first black trade unionist to lead a major Canadian union.

“The work Fred did for his brothers and sisters in the labour movement made lasting positive change for workers of color across this province” said OFL President Chris Buckley. “As the first black president of a major Canadian union, Fred set an example for many younger labour activists and we should all be grateful for his work for greater inclusion and fairness within the labour movement and communities across Ontario.”

Fred Upshaw was born in Halifax in 1935 but moved to Toronto with his mother in 1941. He was the eldest of six children in a single-parent family.

His life as an activist began at Malvern Collegiate High School, where as student council president he led a walkout demanding that students be consulted over uniform changes. Upshaw was a debater and singer in his early years. Following a short stint on the executive of United Auto Workers’ Local 222, Upshaw became a registered nurse and took a job at Whitby Psychiatric Hospital where he was a member, and later president of OPSEU Local 331.

Elected to the OPSEU Executive Board in 1980, Upshaw became First Vice-President/Treasurer in 1984 and President of OPSEU in 1990, serving on the OFL board during his presidency from 1990-1995.

Upshaw’s presidency coincided with the five-year rule of Ontario’s NDP government under Premier Bob Rae. Upshaw led the union during the fightback against Rae’s Social Contract Act. As a key leader of the Public Services Coalition, Upshaw won agreements that minimized the impact of “Rae Days” and prevented layoffs. During Upshaw’s time in office, OPSEU won the right to strike for Ontario Public Service members, joint union-management control over the OPSEU Pension Trust (now OPTrust) and the colleges’ pension plan, and political rights for Crown employees. Always a human rights activist, Upshaw championed employment equity during his term in office.

He was an active member of the OFL board.

“I worked with Fred for many years and I could always rely on him for support in taking recommendations to the board,” said former OFL human rights director June Veecock. “This was in the old days when it was quite challenging to put Human Rights and equity on labour’s agenda. Fred was always progressive on those issues.”

Upshaw also served on the Worker’s Health and Safety Board, remaining a member until his death.

“Fred Upshaw was a clear and resolute voice on behalf of all workers while serving as OPSEU’s President on the Federations Board of Directors,” said former OFL president Gord Wilson. “Fred provided valuable insight for me and all of us serving with him on the Board. No one could doubt his commitment to improving the lives of working people and their families regardless of origin, race, language, sex or sexual orientation. Workers have lost a staunch ally. He will be sorely missed. Well done brother, well done.”

The OFL extends deepest condolences to his family, friends and his colleagues in the labour movement.

A lot has changed since our union was founded in 1963.

But two things remain constant today: public services continue to be important equalizers in our communities and our members who deliver them are under attack.

Governments continue to cut corporate taxes, starving public coffers of the resources needed to deliver important services to Canadians. Workers are being asked to make up the shortfall through lower wages, lesser benefits, and diminishing working conditions.

We continue to face austerity agendas and attacks on workers’ rights both at the bargaining table and in legislatures across the country. We have seen a sharp rise in the number of employers seeking concessions and two-tier provisions in our collective agreements. Governments of all stripes are restructuring the services our members provide and looking for ways to privatize those same services.

As Canada’s largest union, representing 643,000 workers across sectors in every province, we have a responsibility to fight back on behalf of our members and all workers across the country. I know that we are stronger and achieve so much more when we stand shoulder to shoulder. That’s why I am proud of the renewed collective bargaining policy adopted by our National Executive Board this past December.

It’s our strategy to protect collective agreement rights, resist demands for concessions and two-tier contract provisions, and defend every worker’s right to free collective bargaining. And it’s our blueprint for solidarity across the board, to ensure CUPE locals and members are ready to stand together and fight back against attacks during bargaining.

We’re equipping our locals with the resources they need to fight concessions and two-tier contract proposals. And we’re asking them to negotiate better provisions for precarious workers and protection against workplace violence. We’re developing a coordinated bargaining approach in every region so that we can lead from a position of strength.  And we’re committing to political action to defeat any government that attacks our bargaining rights.

Corporate interests and austerity-pushing politicians across the country know that we are unstoppable when we work together. So, together, let’s stand strong against attacks on workers’ rights, and set a course for a fairer and more equal Canada.