Faithful Readers

Hello again.  The insider knows it has been a while since the last posting.  Vacation just was not the time to take OPSEU along.  But there is lots to be done still and we all need to be vigilant to keep OPSEU on track.  Apparently, there have been rumblings of discontent and, if the rumours can be confirmed, we'll address those rumblings.

Looking back at the Convention through the microscope of time, the electoral decision of the union to overwhelmingly endorse the platform of President Thomas becomes even more significant.  A unidimensional approach was rejected.  The notion that Thomas was engaging in "back room" dealing and was capitulating or collaborating with the employers to undermine the membership was thoroughly rejected.  As one delegate recounted, the simple message from Thomas that stewards in the local workplace need to talk with and have a relationship with the employer was a powerful truth.  Sometimes OPSEU needs to picket and "be on the streets" but when that is a primary strategy it dooms the union membership to failure. 

The budget debate, where the members voted to use revenues generated by the strike fund to increase the commitment to campaigns against the corporate, anti-union agenda, was a good indicator of what was to follow.  There was some serious misinformation and confusion about those funds.  Let's look at it in light rather than noise.  First a reminder that the 5% of dues going directly into the strike fund does not change.  Now, the revenues from interest and dividends.  It is simple really and you don't need to be an accountant to get it.  If you owned a rental property, it would be one of your assets.  The revenue generated from that asset would not have to be plowed back into the asset.  You could do that or you could do anything else with those revenues.  Even if the property stands empty, the asset is not diminished, nothing is drawn from the asset.  Your revenues go down, but the asset holds its value or may even go up if the real estate values increase.  Nope -- there never was an attack on the strike fund.  It was always a myth (to word it kindly).

Next question.  Is it sound fiscal policy to live off your interest and dividend revenues? Only if the asset that generates those revenues is very very secure.  And the strike fund is not a secure source of long-term revenue.  So, no it is not good long-term policy.  The long-term fix lies in higher dues, reduced expenses, or a combination of those.  Let's see how the new Board led by Eddy Almeida in the Treasurer's chair stick handles that tough path.  We wish him well and success.

Solidarity