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Ontario Public Service Employees Union, Canada

Last modified: 2022-08-12 by rob raeside
Keywords: public service employees union | ontario |
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Flag of Ontario Public Service Employees Union image located by Esteban Rivera, 11 July 2022

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Description of the flag

Ontario Public Service Employees Union/Syndicat des employés de la fonction publique de l'Ontario (OPSEU/SEFPO) represents workers in the Ontario Public Services, OPS, colleges, the LCBO (Liquor Control Board of Ontario), and the health care sector.

OPSEU was established in 1975 as the successor union to the former Civil Service Association of Ontario, CSAO, which was founded in 1911 as a coal-buying cooperative and social club and to discuss ways of improving the civil service. In 1927 CSAO incorporated under the Corporations Act of Ontario, becoming CSAO, inc. and also started to run the government parking lot and the cafeteria in Toronto and selling gas at a discount to members.
Esteban Rivera, 11 July 2022

1951 logo

Ontario Public Service Employees Union image located by Esteban Rivera, 11 July 2022
from https://opseu.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/19501.jpg, source: https://opseu.org/information/general/history-of-opseu-1910s-1970s/9996/?utm_source=homepage_img

In 1951 a new CSAO logo featured the trillium and the motto: Modern, Loyal, Efficient.

In 1952 developed into an independent labor organization.

In 1956 The Annual General Meeting (the precursor to today’s annual Convention) amended CSAO’s charter to spell out a full range of union functions.

In 1961 The provincial government created a separate Department of the Civil Service, derived mainly by the Civil Service Act of the same year. Additionally, CSAO ends its co-operative buying function to focus on bargaining efforts.

In 1963 The politicians insisted that senior managers no longer belong to CSAO. The organization started to become a grouping of front-line workers.

In 1966 CSAO registered as a union with the Ontario Labour Relations Board enabling it to organize in the private sector.

In 1969 The government acted on a key report by Judge Walter Little and excluded managers, professionals and confidential staff from CSAO. CSAO gets dues check-off for all members and new hires. The dues check-off does not mean these people have to become members of the organization, but it ensures a degree of financial stability to the organization by ensuring they pay dues. In effect, it brings the Rand Formula (a landmark compromise developed by Mr. Justice Ivan Rand) to the OPS. Also in this year, CSAO stopped operating the Queen’s Park cafeteria (after 42 years) and canceled recreational activities and the annual Christmas choir concert to focus on bargaining. CSAO staff unionized.
Esteban Rivera, 11 July 2022

1975 OPSEU old logo

Ontario Public Service Employees Union image located by Esteban Rivera, 11 July 2022
from https://opseu.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/opseulogoold.jpg, source: https://opseu.org/information/general/history-of-opseu-1910s-1970s/9996/?utm_source=homepage_img

In 1975 The organization made the change complete and becomes the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU). A new democratic structure had Convention delegates elect the president for the first time. The vice-president/treasurer’s job became full time, and the seven-region structure is written into the new constitution (https://opseu.org/information/tools-and-resources/ontario-public-service-employees-union-constitution-2019/92827/#_Toc392677749). In a move to assert membership control of the union, the board abolished the position of general manager. Also the new union got a new logo, a stylized trillium enclosed in a triangle formed of three lines – which don’t meet at the bottom. The lines are said to represent the three sectors of the union – the OPS, the colleges and the broader public service. The lines won’t meet until the union gains the full right to strike for OPS members. The slogan Modern, Loyal, Efficient has gone.
Sources: https://opseu.org/about,
https://opseu.org/history-opseu-1910-2008,
https://opseu.org/information/general/history-of-opseu-1910s-1970s/9996/?utm_source=homepage_img, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Service_of_Canada and
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ontario_Public_Service_Employees_Union

The flag is a blue horizontal background with the logo (in inverted colors, that is: white letters and blue background) in the middle. The Ontario Public Service Employees' Union logo is a trademark of OPSEU/SEFPO (source:
https://opseu.org/information/policy/disclaimer-copyright-and-trade-marks). The blue color is Pantone # 285 (source: https://opseu.org/information/opseu-graphics-logos-and-letterhead-templates/12263).

"OPSEU Enterprises sells union-made flags" (source: https://opseu.org/information/owners-manual/12067
Esteban Rivera, 11 July 2022

1980-1990s OPSEU old logo

Ontario Public Service Employees Union image located by Esteban Rivera, 11 July 2022
from https://opseu.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/equalityposter.jpg, source: https://opseu.org/information/general/history-of-opseu-1980s-1990s/9997.

TThis seems to be a variant of the previous logo, incorporating the organization's initials in both English and French.
Esteban Rivera, 11 July 2022

Current flag

Flag of Ontario Public Service Employees Union image located by Esteban Rivera, 11 July 2022
from https://g4a9r7j8.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/OPSEU_no-tag-blue.svg, source: https://opseu.org

This flag features the logo in inverted colors (white letters and logo over blue background).
Esteban Rivera, 11 July 2022

Flag of Ontario Public Service Employees Union image located by Esteban Rivera, 11 July 2022
from https://opseu.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Cain-speaking-LifeLabs.jpg, source: https://opseu.org/news/striking-lifelabs-members-feel-the-solidarity-at-rally-for-a-living-wage/150062

This version has been in use (at least) since 2018, as this official document (https://opseu.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/2018-04opseuownersmanual.pdf) titled "Owner's Manual" displays on page 19. This new version displays faded colors green/blue/purple/ in a repeating (twice) pattern, over the same blue horizontal background and the same modern logo version.

For additional information go to OPSEU (official website): http://www.opseu.org/

Esteban Rivera, 11 July 2022