OPSEU congratulates new top officers at National Union

OTTAWA, June 25, 2016 /CNW/ - The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) is congratulating two well-known Canadian trade unionists as they prepare to take over the leadership of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE).

Larry Brown, current Secretary-Treasurer of NUPGE, was acclaimed in the role of President by delegates at the NUPGE convention in Ottawa today. Elizabeth Ballermann, president of the Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA), was acclaimed NUPGE Secretary-Treasurer. Both will officially take office when the convention closes at noon on Sunday.

"On behalf of myself, First Vice-President/Treasurer Eduardo (Eddy) Almeida, Second Vice-President Debbie Tungatt, and the entire OPSEU executive board, I want to extend our heartiest congratulations to Larry and Elizabeth," OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas said this afternoon. "They are important, experienced leaders in the labour movement in this country, and I know they will do a fabulous job in their new capacity."

Brown will replace James Clancy, who retires as NUPGE President after 26 years in the position. Clancy had been OPSEU President for six years prior to that.

"James Clancy is a giant in the Canadian labour movement," said Thomas. "He has been the voice of provincial public employees, and others, on the national scene. He has been our ambassador to the rest of world.

"More than that, he has been a mentor and friend to more trade unionists, in my union and in unions across the country, than anyone could possibly begin to count," he said. "James' passion, strategic vision, and acute campaigning skills will be missed at the National Union, but he will always remain a leader in the fight for fairness that has defined his entire career."

NUPGE is a federation of 11 unions across the country, including OPSEU, and represents 360,000 Canadian workers.

SOURCE Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU)

Warren (Smokey) Thomas, 613-329-1931