OPSEU must maintain its strong position to continue to defend members and services from the Harris government’s attacks.

That’s why OPSEU will ask its members to okay a small dues increase to strengthen the union and improve services to members.

Delegates to the April, 1999 OPSEU Convention will be asked consider an increase of 0.2 per cent, an average of $2.85 every two weeks. The levy would generate about $6 million annually, which will go directly to the strike fund. The levy will be lifted when the strike fund reaches $50 million.

OPSEU First Vice-President/Treasurer Len Hupet said the increase is necessary because the union will lose more than 10,000 members who face layoffs or divestment in 1999. Without an increase, Hupet forecasts OPSEU dues revenue of about $42 million, down from the 1995 high of nearly $50 million. The operating deficit could reach $4 million, leaving no alternative but to drastically cut services to members.

"We have pared down our costs for 1999," said Hupet. "But the loss of members means we will have to find extra funds to defend our members, negotiate contracts, pay legal fees for arbitrations, enhance our communications and education programs, build our strike fund and organize new members."

Rather than cutting these services to members, the OPSEU Executive Board voted to recommend a dues increase. If it is passed by Convention, OPSEU will also bring a balanced budget for 1999.

Union priorities for the 1999 include: Completion of the grievance backlog mediation/arbitration project; winning a new contract for members in the Ontario Public Service; re-organizing members divested from the OPS; central negotiations for hospital and ambulance workers; first-contract negotiations for members at the Ontario Property Assessment Corp. and the new mental health centre in Toronto.

OPSEU members now contribute 1.325 per cent of gross pay to the union, one of the lowest rates in the labour movement. Ten per cent of total dues now go to the strike fund — about $4 million annually. The strike fund now stands at $12 million.

Under the new proposal, the $4 million normally earmarked for the strike fund will be channelled to union operations to fight the deficit and improve services.

"By setting up the strike fund as a separately-funded entity, we will be able to target our money toward improving services to our members," Hupet said.

In 1996, OPSEU Convention delegates voted for a 0.2 per cent increase to pay off loans from other unions to finance the OPS strike. It was lifted last June, as promised, when all the debt was paid.

The OPSEU Constitution requires notification for the dues increase to be forwarded to the Locals three months before the annual Convention, slated for April 8-10, 1999 in Toronto.

The proposal must be discussed in Local membership meetings before the Convention. Official notification and a proposed budget will be mailed to Local executives before Jan. 9.

Original authorized for distribution by Leah Casselman, President.

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