The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) issued the following letter to OPSEU / SEFPO Hospital Support Members at Mackenzie Health on July 22, 2024. Download the letter here.
TO: OPSEU / SEFPO Hospital Support Members at Mackenzie Health
Greetings Hospital Support Workers,
RE: The Benefits of Staying with OPSEU / SEFPO, and Ontario’s Labour Movement
In my capacity as President of the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL), which represents 54 unions, including OPSEU / SEFPO, and on behalf of the working people of Ontario, I want to take a few minutes to talk to you about what’s at stake with your union membership.
As members of the OPSEU / SEFPO, an affiliate of the OFL and the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), the first thing you need to know is this: when you’re with OPSEU / SEFPO, you’re a part of something bigger – the broader labour movement. In Ontario, that’s more than one million workers; across Canada, that’s more than three million workers.
As representatives of working people in Ontario, the OFL knows that so called “unions” like NOWU will promise you better, but they cannot deliver on their promises. The grass is never greener on the other side – especially when the other side doesn’t work with the rest of the labour movement, but against it.
Did you know for example, that switching to a group like NOWU will in fact weaken your bargaining power? Groups like NOWU will make you promises that they no intention on keeping. Solidarity and democracy are cornerstones of any upstanding labour union. If you join NOWU, your ability to democratically participate and direct your union, are also at stake.
Trust me when I tell you, I know times are hard right now. In my previous role as President of OSBCU – Ontario education workers, I took 55,000 members on an historic strike that resulted in big improvements in wages and working conditions. We were successful because we also had the support of the entire labour movement behind us.
There is massive strength in numbers, and now isn’t the time to look for unproven answers.
OPSEU / SEFPO was behind my members during our fight, and I can tell you that Ontario’s labour movement commits to fighting alongside you and OPSEU /SEFPO to improve your working conditions at Mackenzie Health.
I strongly encourage you to stick with the OPSEU / SEFPO. Your membership in OPSEU / SEFPO gives you strength and stability, and the access to the solidarity that comes with remaining apart of the more than one million Ontario workers that are ready to fight for you, and alongside you.
Learn more about your membership in the OFL and the work we do for working people like you at www.ofl.ca.
Stay Strong. Stay with the OPSEU / SEFPO.
Laura Walton
President
Ontario Federation of Labour
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