The new membership centre for the North Bay branch of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) can now be found at 150 First Ave. W, on the second floor.
The office has been relocated from Fraser Street to their new home above the Legion. Wiring and technology have been upgraded, and the new layout is much more spacious. With adequate parking and more room, union leaders can now accommodate their growing membership. Legion members are supportive of the move by their new neighbours.
While sitting in the new boardroom, after a few minutes discussing the upgrades, a conversation with Michel Bisaillon, Executive Board Member (Local 616), Eddy Almeida, 1st Vice President and Treasurer (OPSEU) and Jeff Arbus, Regional Vice President quickly turned to the hot-button topic for Ontarians, Premier Kathleen Wynne.
"Wynne and her government, how they have been managing Ontario, I don't see how we could ever endorse her," said Almeida, "they've done the complete opposite of what they said they were going to."
When asked when voters would learn their lesson, Arbus replied, "That's what our campaign (We Own It) is all about. Helping people get their heads around the idea that you don't sell off public services. This is a myth that Wynne and her government have been spinning that this will be better for Ontario.
"It's been worse. Higher fees. Medical fees, the user fees have gone up dramatically since privatization. The same with Hydro," said Arbus.
"We were one of the major unions who spoke out against the last budget. We saw that Wynne wanted to sell off resources from the province," added Bisaillon.
Almeida on Ontario's resources, "It's not hers to sell. She was never given that mandate. She's gone way overboard," adding that Wynne did not campaign on a platform to sell off assets.
On the cuts at the North Bay Regional Health Centre, Bisaillon said, "We've had 354 layoffs in the last three years, and when Wynne came down on her last visit, she tried to defer blame. This is the problem with privatization. You tell an entity 'here's so much money, and if you can't live within those means, no matter the demands, it's on you.' It's scapegoating. The North Bay hospital has been hit probably the worse of any hospital in Ontario."
"The number of services has declined. People are travelling to Sudbury to get services they used to get here. It's no win with Wynne," offered Arbus.
The opening ceremonies at the new office took place in the neighbouring park. Attractions included and inflatable for children and a free BBQ. A fundraiser for Luna Ryder and the North Bay Scoliosis Warriors was held with a raffle, a small silent auction, and monetary donations accepted. Almeida made a cheque presentation on behalf of OPSEU to help Ryder in her battle.
