Openness and Transparency: Apparently Not in OPTA

TORONTO, Jan. 19, 2018 /CNW/ - Imagine being a paying member of an organization and being told that you are not welcome at a training session. This is exactly what happened when ATU Canada, a member of the Ontario Public Transit Association (OPTA), attempted to register for a training seminar.

After being sent an email regarding an upcoming seminar (Fitness for Duty Alcohol and Drug), ATU Canada was denied the ability to register. Speaking with OPTA, CEO, Karen Cameron, was informed that the other attendees (Employers, Management and HR representatives) didn't feel that they would be able to have a free and open discussion with a representative from Labour in attendance.

The ATU represents 22 locals throughout Ontario. With the upcoming legalization of marijuana, an open and frank discussion with our employers is exactly what should be happening. Rather than fostering a collaborative relationship to discuss the upcoming legislation with Labour, OPTA and its Board of Directors would rather continue the veil of secrecy which encourages the adversarial relationship that has plagued Labour Management relations since the inception of the Labour Movement itself.

For an organization like OPTA to claim to want "to strengthen and improve public transit through advocacy and information sharing" is nothing more than lip service.

Shame on them!  

About OPTA
Mission
To strengthen and improve public transit through advocacy and information sharing.
http://www.ontariopublictransit.ca/
Fitness for Duty Alcohol and Drug
Agenda:

• Overall purpose and objectives of a Fitness for Duty policy
• Application (Organization-wide? Separate safety-sensitive positions? Separate contractor direction?)
• The rules (alcohol, illicit drugs, mood altering substances, medications, on-call and unexpected call)
• Prevention components
• Investigations including testing options, searches, impaired driving
• Consequences for a violation and conditions of continued employment
• Supporting appendix material (definitions, medication guideline, testing procedures)
• Testing Protocols (Third Party Administrators; Program Administrator; the role of HR)

SOURCE ATU Canada

Paul Thorp, President ATU Canada 416-679-8846