In the 1970s, academic staff selected OPSEU as its Union. The Union represents you in negotiations and in day-to-day contract administration, with respect to working conditions, salary and benefits.
At each of the 24 colleges, a Local of OPSEU represents the full-time and partial-load faculty. Your Local – here at George Brown College – is OPSEU Local 556.
Members of Local 556 have elected workplace stewards who form the Local Executive Committee (LEC). Officers of Local 556 are elected at a general membership meeting. In addition, the Local appoints representatives to numerous committees within the college, e.g. Joint Health and Safety Committees, Workload Monitoring Group. Contract demands, Union policy changes, and constitutional amendments are initiated at the Local level. The president of the Local is the recognized representative of the Union in dealings with the college.
The Local represents members with the employer at Union College Committee meetings and in position papers. The Local represents members during grievance hearings and workload complaints. The Local purchases release of work time for stewards to facilitate the administration of the Collective Agreement and to assist members of the Local in business that is pertinent to the Collective Agreement.
The Local works with other stakeholder groups within the college to achieve high quality education for the students of George Brown College. After all – that is what we’re all here to do!
The officers and stewards of Local 556 are here to help ensure that the Collective Agreement is followed. We can provide info and help for full-time and partial-load faculty, counsellors and librarians – whether you are a new hire or a long time employee. We help inform you of your rights, provide steward representation or accompaniment to meetings, should you need it. We can help you exercise your rights and file a grievance or a human rights complaint, if necessary, or just provide general advice about your employment at GBC.
You can reach me, the Local 556 president, at 416-415-5000 ext 2200 or 4303.
In Solidarity,
