OPSEU 2026 Regional Elections are Over —but What You Said Still Stands
“I won’t be OPSEU’s next First Vice-President and Treasurer. But what you told me doesn’t disappear because an election did.”
— Ram Selvarajah.
As you may have heard, I lost the election for Region 5 Executive Board Member on Saturday by a dozen or so votes. Of course, this wasn’t the result we hoped for — but this campaign was about more than just winning a seat. It was about proving that change is possible, and that listening to members isn’t a campaign tactic — it’s leadership.
So, to everyone who wrote an endorsement, facilitated a town hall, volunteered their time, showed up to a session, chatted with me on the phone, or trusted me with your vote — thank you.
Every one of those things took time you didn’t have to give. You gave it anyway because you believe this union can be better. That means something, and I won’t forget it.
I won’t be OPSEU’s next First Vice-President and Treasurer. But what you told me doesn’t disappear because the election is over.
The 200+ members didn’t show up to our town halls for me. They showed up because something is broken and they’re tired of pretending it isn’t. That doesn’t go away because of an election result. That goes away when someone fixes it.
Since November, we have gathered over 800 minutes of conversation. All 7 regions. Nearly every sector is represented. 12 consistent issues kept emerging — here are the top 3:
Members can’t reach their staff reps. Not sometimes — routinely. People in crisis, people facing grievances, people who just need someone to pick up the phone. And in some cases, a single rep spans thousands of members. That’s not a workload problem. That’s abandonment.
Local presidents are burning out. The people holding your locals together are doing it on the side of their desks with a book-off formula that hasn’t been meaningfully updated in years. They’re not resourced. They’re not supported. And they’re exhausted.
There’s a culture of fear — and members know it. Boardroom politics are playing out at the cost of member services. People told us they see it, they feel it, and they’re tired of it. A union that can’t get its own house in order can’t fight for yours.
These aren’t my talking points. They’re yours. Take them into convention. Ask whoever’s leading next what they plan to do about them.
The Member Voice Dashboard isn’t going anywhere, and neither is the delegate tool kit and the plan for my first 100 days — that I hope the next first VP/Treasurer uses.
So whoever sits in that chair next — members are watching. The data is public. The mandate is clear. And the members who built it aren’t going anywhere.
Neither am I.
In Solidarity,
Ram Selvarajah