The Need for A Cultural Shift at OPSEU

​A Recap Of Our First In-Person Event

​On Saturday, I hosted a campaign meet-and-greet after the main programming at the Region 5 leadership conference. A room full of members cycled through from 4:30 pm to 10:30 pm, having the kind of conversations our union needs more of.

​It was my privilege to have numerous conversations with leaders across our region about the future of OPSEU. We talked about modernizing OPSEU's infrastructure so local presidents have the tools and data they need to actually lead. Approaching bargaining and government relations with long-term strategy — not just reacting to the latest crisis. Investing members' dues in education and leadership development because equity isn't a statement, it's a practice. And confronting AI head-on, because our members' workplaces aren't waiting for us to get comfortable with the topic.

​We also talked about the lack of trust members have in OPSEU — and the responsibility leadership has to intentionally rebuild that trust, not wait for members to come around on their own.

​We talked about the fact that most OPSEU members across this province probably don't even know there's a leadership race happening right now. The majority of our members aren't actively engaged in the union — and we can't blame them for that. That responsibility to engage and educate members falls on our leadership. I shared how I take that responsibility seriously, and plan to use innovative strategies to reach those members — to help them understand how their union actually serves them, how to get involved, how to access the resources they're already paying for, and why any of this should matter to their day-to-day working lives.

​We talked about bringing real long-term strategy to OPSEU — data-driven planning, long-term thinking, and getting ahead of government moves instead of only reacting to them. That's how I operate on every other board I sit on — OP Trust, United Way — and OPSEU deserves the same. Strikes are a critical tool, but they can't be our only move. We need to manage the messaging, build solidarity, and think further ahead.

​It was a rich, engaging sharing of ideas, frustrations and dreams for OPSEU, in a room full of members for several hours.

This week, we return to our virtual town hall and invite you to join this meeting of minds, to ask your questions of me, to share what you need from the union because it is your insights that will fuel my mandate as first VP. RSVP https://luma.com/rjuayo89

​The Need for A Cultural Shift at OPSEU

​Now, we were going to pair this email with photos from the event, but we ultimately decided against it. This was a drop-in event; there was no registration page, so we couldn't get proper consent from everyone who came through. And truthfully, I wouldn't have been comfortable doing that anyway, because of something I've been hearing from members since I started this campaign.

​I've gotten to talk to a lot of members over the past few months. Across regions, sectors, locals. One-on-one, in groups. People have pushed back on my ideas, told me to think harder, and honestly, those conversations have made this campaign and me as a leader better.

​But a lot of those same people have told me something that I can't stop thinking about — that they support me, but can't say any of this publicly. Because of the politics inside our union, and because they're worried about consequences from existing leaders, which would impact their own ability to work.

​And this isn't a couple of people. It's a pattern that speaks to an actual or perceived abuse of power by leaders, which is unacceptable. When members across this province are independently telling you they're afraid to participate openly in a democratic process within their own union, that speaks to a systemic issue at OPSEU that is much bigger than getting folks to publicly support any one campaign.

​If people can't talk openly about who they support or what they want to see changed without worrying about retribution, then our Statement of Respect isn't being lived by the people who are supposed to lead it.
To everyone who came through on Saturday — thank you. If elected, I commit to fighting to shift this culture towards one more aligned with our Statement of Respect. An OPSEU where you don't have to keep your support quiet, where you can disagree with leaders without fear of consequences. That's the bare minimum of what a democratic union should be — and the fact that we have to fight for it tells you everything about why this election matters.

Final Virtual Town Hall Before Regionals | March 12 @ 7pm ET | RSVP https://luma.com/rjuayo89