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Warren (Smokey) Thomas says convention theme dedicates union to moving members forward.
Toronto (23 April 2009) - More than 1,500 delegates, alternates and observers are attending the 34th annual convention of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE), which opens today at the Sheraton Centre Hotel in Toronto and runs through Saturday.
“The theme for convention this year is Keep Your Eyes on the Prize and will focus on moving forward as a union,” says OPSEU president Warren (Smokey) Thomas. “We will continue to support our members and the work they do as they work toward improving their working conditions.”
This is an election year for OPSEU. The union's top officers are seeking re-election.
OPSEU’s prestigious Stanley Knowles Humanitarian Award will be presented during the convention to Lt. Gen Roméo Dallaire, noted for his extraordinary humanitarian efforts as UN Commander in Rwanda.
Andrea Horwath, the first woman to lead the Ontario NDP and only the second woman in history to lead a major party in Ontario, will also address the convention.
OPSEU represents over 130,000 employees who work for the Ontario government, Ontario’s community colleges, the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) and more than 500 broader public sector employers.
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE