Four hundred and eighty. 

At the conclusion of the awards ceremony on November 17, Domenic Bellissimo spoke eloquently on behalf of all award recipients.  A copy of his remarks is available here.

Hello everyone,

Four hundred and eighty.

Four hundred and eighty years is the approximate combined length of time these recipients have devoted to our Federation.  Whether at the workplace, district or provincial level—these members have shared their expertise, strength, and knowledge for the well-being of our members. Whether in a school, on a campus or in another education facility, these members have worked tirelessly to represent the best interests of our membership and all along, worked to enhance public education.

In many ways, these recipients represent what’s best about our union.  Our diversity in the education team roles we perform.  A variety of experiences as well– from being that local leader who resolves problems and leads members into the struggle. To provincial staff members responsible for organizing new federation members, bargaining new contracts; resolving grievances, developing the latest in educational professional development resources, Human Rights policies and political action training.  Also, to have been members of our leading provincial executive.  Think about it.  We’ve got represented here members of the PE who balanced our finances during difficult times, went head to head with various Premiers bent on privatizing and weakening publicly-funded education. Many were instrumental in also creating this body—a Provincial Council made up of Presidents of ALL units.  Large or small. Some of us working in both English and French.  Being members of Teachers, Ed Workers or PSSP units. Some retired and some still working in various capacities for our union.

And tragically, one of our colleagues who is no longer with us although we benefited from the skills that Shelley shared with each of us. Shelley became a rock star to the districts she served. She was fearless in taking on management but also smart when issues required creative solutions. She was driven by an ethic of service to members and those members and local leaders she dealt with could feel it.  And she loved her pension portfolio as much as members loved attending her pension workshops.  She was deeply knowledgeable, funny, organized; in short, she made the potentially dry topic of pensions fascinating and even fun for the membership.

Four hundred and eighty years of collective commitment.  And I can tell you honestly that not one of us here tonight undertook their work in order to receive an award of excellence or a Life Membership! We were guided by the conviction that our union is always stronger when MORE of us are active and new members are  participating. We do better when we are united to achieve a common goal for the sake of all members. My colleagues will tell you that working for OSSTF/FEESO was a most exciting, exhausting, rewarding, challenging, and all consuming job and we are grateful to be acknowledged here tonight.

Last week it felt great to finally have a small but significant victory in kicking Doug Ford and Stephen Lecce’s asses on Bill 28 and in forcing them to rescind the unprecedented assault on charter rights; on bargaining rights and on all workers’ rights.

Our Federation stood shoulder to shoulder with dozens of other unions in the private and public sector who came together to tell Ford that “we won’t back down” and “we’re in this together”. You know, some of those unions had not been on a stage with each other or with the Canadian Labour Congress in nearly four years.

This enemy—this attack on labour, was greater than any divisions we have and wisely Unity was the message of the day. It was a great post-pandemic victory in one of the many battles we’re currently facing.

I would be lying if I didn’t tell you that many of us retirees, watched this fight last week and missed the excitement, energy and the chaos that resulted in that historic press conference defying this government.  It felt like the old Days of Action in 1997 and our political protest for a while there.  I should also say that we DON’T miss the stress associated with sleepless nights, tiring long meetings and mobilizing our members.

We also don’t miss the difficult decisions you as a Provincial Council and local leaders have to make this year.  But know this.

We will continue to stand by for whatever our union needs and requests of us.

If we continue to be guided by the interests of our collective membership and NOT by what I as an individual may want—we will be more successful.  Despite our differences of opinion, we can still remain united and move forward as one union with one voice in our demands of this government and our employers.

Finally, we recognize that we’re just passing through our great union at a particular time and that we should all strive to leave it stronger and better than we found it–as did those who came before us.

Remember, it’s about the members.  Just as it has been for more than one hundred years!  Thank you once again to the PE and the Provincial Council for this recognition.

November 17, 2022