LBED Divisional Meeting
June 3 & 4, 2007
Day 1 - June 3, 2007
BPS conference puts focus on provincial election

It was a busy weekend for delegates attending LBED’s first divisional meeting. That’s because the
two-day LBED meeting followed OPSEU’s Broader Public Sector conference, held on June 1-2.
The conference is held every two years and brings together hundreds of OPSEU members from 20
different sectors across the province.

Highlights of this year’s conference included a keynote speech by newly elected OPSEU president
Warren (Smokey) Thomas and a question-and-answer session with representatives of the four
main provincial parties that will be running in Ontario’s provincial election this October.

Agency stores

One of the key questions put to the four political parties focused on private “agency stores” and
LCBO privatization. Here is the question and a summary of what each speaker had to say.

Question: The current Ontario government says it opposes the privatization of the Liquor Control
Board of Ontario.

Yet at the same time, it is expanding the so-called “agency stores” program, allowing roughly 200
gas stations, grocery stores, and other private businesses to sell alcohol to the public. This
program is costing Ontario taxpayers money, it is robbing many communities of the service and
selection of a real LCBO store, and it has opened the door to the sale of alcohol to minors.

What is your party’s position on the agency stores program?

Green Party leader Frank de Jong did not address the need to stop the growth of private agency
stores or replace them with public LCBO outlets. Instead, he suggested that agency stores should
be staffed by unionized workers.

Liberal Minister of Government Services Gerry Phillips said that when they were in office, all
three of the main parties supported the agency stores program. He said the Liberals believe there
is a place for agency stores in Ontario. He did not discuss the loss of public revenue through
agency stores or commit to replacing agency stores with real LCBO outlets.

NDP MPP Andrea Horwath said she had met with LBED members in recent weeks to discuss the
issue. She said that the NDP supports OPSEU’s position that there should be strict limits on new
agency stores and that larger agency stores should be replaced with real LCBO outlets.

Progressive Conservative MPP Joyce Savoline said her party supports the agency stores
program.

YOU can help get the message across

With the Ontario election set for October 10, now is the time to make sure provincial politicians
from all the major parties get our message about putting a lid on private agency stores. Here’s
how you can help:

-     Send a message to your MPP. Go to www.opseu.org/lbed/privatization.htm to send your MPP
an e-mail or print out a message you can send by fax or mail.

-     Get involved in your local’s lobby campaign. By meeting
with MPPs, and other politicians you can show them that the
agency stores issue matters to voters in your community.

-     Wear your “Our LCBO – Let’s Keep it Public” button at
work. LCBO management has clearly stated that no member
will be disciplined for wearing the button.

-    Find out more. Visit www.opseu.org/lbed/privatization.htm or contact your local for more facts
about the LCBO, agency stores and Ontario communities.
Chair                                                                              Vanda Klumper (Local 165)
Vice-Chair                                                                      Denise Davis (Local 378)
Secretary-Treasurer                                                      Paula Sossi (Local 285)
Chair, Benefits & Pension Committee                             Susan Lusty (Local 376)
Chair, Health & Safety Committee                                  Tracy Vyschaft (Local 377)
Chair, Education & Communications Committee            Jeremy Trainor (Local 378)
Divisional election results
Divisional Executive     (DivEx)
Benefits & Pension Committee
Susan Lusty (Local 376) – Chair
Mike Peris (Local 162)
Valerie Daughton (Local 5110)

Health & Safety Committee
Tracy Vyschaft (Local 377) – Chair
Rob Mithrush (Local 741)
Kelly McInnes (Local 499)

Education & Communications
Committee
Jeremy Trainor (Local 378) – Chair
Colleen MacLeod (Local 5107)
Nelson Ross (Local 499)

Employee Assistance Program
(EAP) Committee
Felicia Metcalf-Fahey (Local 681) - Chair

Permanent Vacancy Review
(PVR) Committee
Dan Rath (Local 164) - Chair

Trustee Audit Committee
Bryan Teggart (Local 284)
Sandy Hunter (local 379)
Regional Labour-Management Committee Chairs

Western Region
Rain Loftus (Local 163)

Eastern Region
Ann Ledwidge (Local 377)

Central Region
Dora Robinson (Local 376)

Northern Region
Laurie Miller (Local 379)

OPSEU Negotiator
Rob Field - rfield@opseu.org
1-800-268-7376 x 8640

susan_barrie@hotmail.com
niceguy2212@hotmail.com
valeriedaughton@sympatico.ca


gmslave@sympatico.ca
mithrush@tbaytel.net
kmcinnes@sympatico.ca







thetrain17@hotmail.com
colleenmacleod@opseu5107.org
nelsonross@sympatico.ca












felicia@persona.ca





rath81@hotmail.com
Day 2 - June 4, 2007
BPS workshops address LBED issues

The BPS conference also featured three workshops designed specifically for members from the
LCBO.

Permanent Vacancy Review

PVR is the process set out in the collective agreement for converting casual positions to
permanent full-time, based on the number of hours worked. The workshop focused on how locals
can make the process work better under the current collective agreement and how the contract
language could be improved in the next round of bargaining.

So far in 2007, the annual PVR process has identified a total of 84 positions that will be converted
to permanent full-time.

Employee Assistance Program

This workshop featured a presentation by a representative of
Shepell FGI, the current EAP provider for LCBO employees.
Topics included the range of counseling and other services
available, how to access them, and the role of union
representatives in the referral process.

Over the coming weeks, Felicia Metcalf-Fahey, the new chair of LBED’s EAP committee will be
working with the DivEx to identify volunteers from each of the LCBO’s regions to join the EAP
committee. See future issues of The Echo for more details.

Accommodation, Modified Work and the LCBO

This workshop focused on workers’ rights to accommodation and modified work under the Ontario
Human Rights Code and the Workers’ Safety and Insurance Act, the employer’s duty to
accommodate and the role of union and employer representatives in the accommodation process.

With as many as 50 percent of members in some LCBO regions needing accommodations, this
will be a key focus for the new LBED health & safety and benefits & pensions committees over the
next two years.