News From The Front Lines

 
The Oct. 6th Provincial election is fast approaching. Your Local 270 Executive encourages members to vote.

We have the unique opportunity in the Ontario Public Service of electing our ultimate bosses. Therefore, when you vote please consider who is the best candidate / party to work for as an employer.

The Executive of Local 270 met in Sept. and supported my decision to volunteer for the campaign to elect Kim Craitor in Niagara Falls. Brother Kim is a labour friendly candidate. He was President of the Niagara Falls Labour Council, and has helped our Local members over many years. I want to thank my Local Executive for their support.

I’m also supporting the campaign of Jim Bradley in my home riding of St. Catharines, as he has helped our members over many years too.

I feel it’s very important to support our political friends at election time. The anti-labour policies of some candidates are very scary. It’s in our interest to elect labour friendly candidates.

News From The Front Lines

Did you know MTO has our own Toastmasters Club right here in St. Catharines? The purpose of Toastmasters is to enhance the speaking and leadership skills of their members. MTO Toastmasters meets every Tuesday from 12 noon to 1 pm, in the 2nd floor Learning Centre, Garden City Tower, 301 St. Paul Street.

I’ve been a member of MTO Toastmasters for about 3 years. In that time I’ve greatly improved by speaking & leadership skills. This has helped me in giving speeches at Local 270 events, and to deliver effective presentations in my MTO career.

Do you want to improve your speaking & leadership skills? Why not join a few meetings of MTO Toastmasters as a guest. See what it’s like to be part of a fun & encouraging place to develop your skills. If you would like more information about MTO Toastmaster is like please contact me.

Regards,
Dan McKnight
President
OPSEU Local 270

News From The Front Lines

 
I always enjoy your feedback on my Blog. Recently, I was asked to write a Blog about what I do as your Local 270 President. Here are some of my accomplishments for Local 270 members:

• Pay Raise of 2 % for two more years – If there was no union contract we would not be getting a pay raise for many years. As your Local President I lead our Local through the last round of bargaining negotiations that guaranteed us a pay raise every year until the end of 2012.
• Pension Increase – You pension will increase as a direct result of the pay increase I helped to negotiate. If you do not get a pay raise it can permanently lower your pension.
• Festive Season Get-together – We’ve had a Local 270 Festive Get-together every year I’ve been President. It’s a lot of fun.
• Grievances – I’ve represented over 100 member grievances. I have been able to get wrongfully dismissed members re-instated to jobs. I’ve also been able to get excessive suspensions reduced or eliminated.
• Employee Relations – I’ve spent 20 years on the MTO Head Office & Ministry Employee Relations Committees. I’ve successfully addressed member issues (e.g. Increased job security, fought cut-backs, got Flex time agreements, etc.).
• Local Newsletter – I started our Local 270 newsletter, and I’m still the Editor. Both our newsletter and web-site have won many awards from OPSEU.
• Set OPSEU Policy – I attend OPSEU’s annual Convention where the policy of OPSEU is discussed, and the top Officers of OPSEU are elected.

The Local President is a voluntary position. I’m not paid to do any of this work. I feel I’ve made a positive difference in people lives. That’s my reward.

Regards,
Dan McKnight
President
OPSEU Local 270