News | Society of United Professionals

Take Back the Night Events Across Ontario
September 15, 2016

Take Back the Night (TBTN) is an annual rally and protest against sexual and gender-based violence. TBTN 2016 communities celebrate, support and empower survivors, while creating safer communities and healthier relationships through awareness, activism and advocacy. Take Back the Night events are geared toward empowering women to confront fears about rape and assault by reclaiming the ...
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Labour Day 2016 Messages
September 2, 2016

Society President Scott Travers greeted members with the following Labour Day message: I hope you had a great summer. And I hope that you will have a wonderful Labour Day! It is more than a long weekend; its also an opportunity to have a lot of fun while reflecting on all the achievements of labour in ...
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Labour Day 2016 Events
September 1, 2016

The Society of United Professionals invites you to help celebrate the role of unions in your community. Celebrate Labour Day with your family and friends on Monday, September 5, 2016 Here are some of the Labour Day events: Barrie: Community Picnic Time: 11:00 am to 3:00 pm Where: Sunnidale Park, 227 Sunnidale Rd, Barrie, ON Durham: Community Picnic Time: 11:00 am to 3:00 pm Where: Memorial ...
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Major breakthrough in Legal Aid lawyers campaign for collective bargaining rights
August 24, 2016

In reaction to a significant breakthrough for The Society’s Legal Aid lawyers’ campaign for collective bargaining rights, The Society issued the following media release today: The Legal Aid lawyers campaign for their right to collectively bargain took a major step forward today. Following an intense pressure campaign, Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) finally agreed to come to ...
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Retirements: May to July, 2016
August 18, 2016

The Society wishes a long and happy retirement to all members who have chosen to begin the next phase of their lives. Last Name First Name Company Brown John Bruce Power Dalton Paul Bruce Power Janowski Waldemar Bruce Power Carter Tammy Hydro One Fischer Arthur Hydro One Milburn Scott Hydro One Nicolau Harry Hydro One Rashotte Philip Hydro One Reynolds Derek Hydro One Reynolds Terry Hydro One Roeper Pete Hydro One Tolpa Julia Hydro One Vilar Julio Hydro One Wagner Geraldine Hydro One Whalen Pat Hydro One Armstrong Louis IESO Chung Simon IESO Gemmill Jeff IESO Graham Bill IESO Medal John IESO Phillips Carmela IESO Irwin Judy Inergi Kennedy David Inergi McFadyen Michelle Inergi Wong Jimmy Inergi Wong Tao Inergi Jarv Tom Kinectrics Morrison Hugh Kinectrics Sidorenko Nataliia New Horizon Clark Christie OEB Achilles Richard OPG Akey Andy OPG Anderson Diane OPG Auston Doug OPG Bambrick Ronald OPG Bragg Susan OPG Cadoo Linda OPG Carvalho Jose OPG Chan Youn-Wah OPG Cheng Alfred OPG Chiang Hsu-Wen OPG Childs Kim OPG Coulter Phil OPG Covelli Lucille OPG Day Lynn OPG Denis Jocelyn OPG Dickerson William OPG Driscoll Ken OPG Garcia-Lee Violeta OPG Geiger Martin OPG Goldberg Jacob (Yakov) OPG Gore John OPG Harney David OPG Helferty Barry OPG Hills Joanne OPG Hutchison Stephen OPG Johnston Dwayne OPG Jose Roger OPG Kalirai Bal OPG Komosa Zbigniew OPG Kopytek Jacek OPG Labelle Jeff OPG Liauw Wie OPG Livsey Daniel OPG Lopes Orlando OPG Loveland Glenn OPG MacPherson Rod OPG Martell Dorothy OPG McKay Ranald OPG McTeer Shirley OPG Myers Paul OPG O’Leary Bruce OPG Parker Pete OPG Phair Dave OPG Power Wayne OPG Schoen Emeric OPG Schultz Steve OPG Scott Jack OPG Shewchuk Brenda OPG Snow John OPG Spelt Martin OPG Stevens Fred OPG Tackaberry Randy OPG Tang Francis OPG Terry Kevin OPG Tiraborrelli Frank OPG Tong Eleanor OPG Virgin Mike OPG Yoshida M OPG
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Global energy sector labour news
August 18, 2016

INDIA: Thermal employees stage protest over regularisation PAKISTAN: Power workers demand modern tools to reduce workplace fatalities USA: Negotiations ongoing to save nuclear jobs GREECE: Union challenges electricity grid sell-off in court
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Society members urged to update information
August 18, 2016

The Society urges members to submit and, if necessary, update their home address and contact information that is on file with the union. The Society requires members updated home address and contact information to reach you in case of an urgent issue, during collective bargaining campaigns and to provide key information that in the aggregate helps ...
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Change in pension commuting rules
August 18, 2016

The Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO), which is the regulatory body that oversees pension plans in Ontario, has ruled that a pension plan member who has reached their normal retirement age 65-years-old* will no longer have the option of transferring the commuted value of their pension benefit out of a pension plan ...
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Public pensions: CPP deal puts an end to ORPP
August 18, 2016

Change is coming to public pensions in Canada. After winning the 2014 election on a plan for improved retirement security, the Ontario government introduced the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan (ORPP). But a deal struck between all provinces and the federal government to improve the existing Canada Pension Plan means that the ORPP is unnecessary and ...
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Labour law reform report first step toward fairness
August 18, 2016

The Society along with Legal Aid lawyers responded to the Ministry of Labours Changing Workplaces Review (CWR) interim report following its July 27 release. The report is part of determining if and how to update Ontarios employment and labour laws to reflect modern working conditions. The union called upon Premier Kathleen Wynnes government to immediately ...
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High voltage member: Calvin Stein
August 18, 2016

Heralded a hero for saving a young girl from a stampede of horses, Society member Calvin Stein insists “I’m just an average guy that did what anyone would do. A Hydro One line supervisor, Stein was at the Tweed Agricultural Fair last month when a string of ponies broke loose. As local media reported, after the ...
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Hydro One Local Council focused on member engagement
August 18, 2016

Sixty voting and alternate delegates attended the daylong Hydro One Local Council meeting at the Delta Toronto East on June 13. The annual meeting, which is the highest governing body of the Hydro One Local, focused its work with the theme Engaging with my union. Speakers included IFPTE President Greg Junemann, who highlighted the Internationals work ...
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Legal Aid lawyers’ campaign in high gear
August 18, 2016

The campaign for Legal Aid Ontario lawyers collective bargaining rights moved into high gear this summer. With seven events that upped the pressure on Premier Kathleen Wynne, The Society and Legal Aid Ontario lawyers who are fighting for the right to join The Society have generated media attention and social media buzz. They are pledging ...
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Toronto Hydro Local beat back concessions
July 13, 2016

Months of fighting against the same austerity agenda workers are facing at bargaining tables across Canada paid off for The Societys Toronto Hydro Local this week as it reached and ratified a new collective agreement. Toronto Hydro management had been demanding that Society members sellout the next generation of workers. Just as they did during the ...
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Minister Naqvi: give Legal Aid lawyers their rights
June 23, 2016

The Hon. Yasir Naqvi was appointed as Attorney General on Monday, June 13, and on Thursday, June 16, the President of The Society of United Professionals, Scott Travers, hand delivered the following letter reminding the Minister of the issue of the denial of our voluntary recognition and asking him to take swift action to rectify ...
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Workers celebrate universal CPP expansion
June 21, 2016

Following years of advocacy by the labour movement, today workers are celebrating an announcement that Canada’s federal and provincial governments will expand the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) for all working people. As the percentage of Canadians with a workplace pension dwindles, this universal expansion of CPP will significantly improve retirement security for the majority of Canadians ...
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Nominate a Society member for an EHRC award
June 15, 2016

Do you know an outstanding member, elected representative or leader who is a member of The Society of United Professionals? Would you like to see them recognized for their hard work? Well then, why not nominate them for one of Electricity Human Resources Canadas 2016 Awards of Excellence? The winners of these Awards will be announced ...
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Ramadan Mubarak
June 15, 2016

The Society wishes peace and prosperity to Muslim members observing the holy month of Ramadan. During this holiest month of the Islamic calendar, with a few exceptions, observant Muslims will fast from dawn until dusk each day from June 6 to July 7. Though fasting is one of the better known parts of Ramadan among non-Muslims, ...
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March with The Society at Pride
June 15, 2016

Happy Pride month! June is Pride month, a time to recognize the progress made toward human rights for people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT). While events will be held in communities across Ontario, the biggest event is Torontos July 3 Pride Parade. The Society will be marching with other labour groups. Members and ...
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Member honoured with Silver Medal for her fathers WWII service
June 15, 2016

Society OPG Local member Pat Oakes was presented with a Congressional Silver Medal of Honour from the United States government for her fathers extraordinary service as an Akwesasne Mohawk Code Talker during World War II. The May 28 ceremony on the St. Regis Mohawk Reservation finally provided the recognition owed to the Akwesasne Mohawk Code Talkers, which ...
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