The storied brand of OPSEU (Ontario Public Service Employees Union) could be tarnished by the conflict with its own staff labour movement, the Ontario Public Service Staff Union (OPSSU), amid allegations of union bashing by their own union. After a bitter round of contract negotiations between union management and union workers at OPSEU, a virtual civil war has broken out at headquarters — pitting unionists against unionists. Interviews with both sides reveal an atmosphere of mistrust by management and fear of firings among union staff. Standing up for workers’ rights is what OPSEU does every day for its 130,000 union members, defending them against intimidation or retaliation by employers. At its April convention, OPSEU president Warren (Smokey) Thomas had to defend his handling of complaints from headquarters staff.

Source: thestar September 17, 2016 09:00 UTC