Dispute Resolution

I can support the resolution of disputes for individuals and organizations using my using many years of experience in dispute resolution, training and education.

I can support the resolution of disputes for individuals and organizations using my using many years of experience in dispute resolution, and problem-solve in workplace labour relations settings combined with broader training in dispute resolution such as the Online Dispute Resolution Certificate through Osgoode Hall Law School and the Theory and Practice of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) course within the Osgoode LLM, adding to previous training in negotiations, such as training on “Getting to Yes” and “Dealing with Difficult People” provided through Harvard University.

This training adds to my many years of experience in advocacy in dispute resolution in real-life workplace labour relations settings as a front-line union Steward, then Unit Officer, then Chief Steward at CUPE Local 79, a composite union local with multiple collective agreements spanning various sectors, including municipal, social services, long term care, health care. I have many years of advocacy on individual and group disputes, but also including a pinnacle achievement of a union leadership role in a collaborative dispute resolution effort resulting in finding resolutions for over 4,000 outstanding grievances in 3 years, resolving a grievance backlog through the introduction and joint union-management administration of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and mediation processes.

Accredited with the ADR Institute of Ontario (ADRIO)

Public Speaking

I can support labour and other social justice advocacy using my voice and communications skills experience gained over many years of activism and leadership in the labour movement and working with labour and community allies to promote common causes such as labour standards, public services, less inequality. During my several years as President of Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 79, I developed into a seasoned and passionate public speaker and media spokesperson skilled at creating and maintaining a positive public image. I quickly developed the capacity to successfully fulfill the role of media spokesperson at press conferences, newspaper interviews, and other public engagements. I also delivered many speeches at labour conventions and conferences during policy debates within CUPE as well as in support of the broader labour movement through organizations like the Ontario Federation of Labour and the Canadian Labour Congress. As leader, I articulated CUPE Local 79’s values in all our communications.

As President of Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 79 I played a coordinating role in a very successful labour public engagement effort, the multi-phased Taking Care of Toronto campaign, from print to social media, turned into a television commercial communicating the value of the services our members provide to Toronto’s communities and work that CUPE Local 79 contributes to communities.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ik3BQd-qm_o

• Labour Community advocacy on homelessness and shelter services: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1541232982626192 (2017)
• Advocacy for considering community health impact of proposed Casino after member engagement survey https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmzIrdWcPwo (2013)
  Recent speaking engagements have included:
• “Union-Building in Challenging Times” presentation to inter-departmental seminar (ILR School Cornell University, 2019)
• “Practicing Collaborative Labour Relations Leadership in Challenging Times,” Virtual Presentation & Dialogue, Executive Forum, University Masters in Strategic Leadership Organizational Structure and Behavior. St. Bonaventure Allegany, New York (Oct. 2020)
• “Current Challenges to Labour and Employment Law in the United and Canada, and the Need for Labour Law Reform” (including lessons from pandemic and systemic racism in labour law) a pending webinar https://247compliance.com/Current-Challenges-Labour-Employment-Law-UnitedStates/1494

Strategic Planning

• I have significant strategic planning experience as executive strategic planning lead at CUPE Local 79, and as a participating Board Director at OMERS, with training through OMERS, at Queen’s Governance Program.
• Led CUPE Local 79’s executive through four phases of Strategic Planning, developing action plans for deepening member and public engagement, communications, and mobilization during challenging times. I wrote CUPE Local 79’s Active Vision Statement. As the leader, I articulated CUPE Local 79’s values in all our communications, particularly by writing our Active Mission Statement, expressing our core values, and developing and implementing our action plans in alignment with these core values and mission statements. The Active Vision Statement was posted on all floors of the union office as a reminder of our mission of continuous improvement in our representation of members and advocacy for improving standards for ourselves and others.
• As a part of these strategic planning efforts, I was trained in and co-facilitated Strength-Weakness-Advantages-Threats (SWAT) Analysis at the centre of executive strategic planning.
• Trained in S.M.A.R.T (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-bound) strategic planning and decision-making, and incorporated evidence-based decision-making framework, into our strategic planning process.
• As a Sponsors Corporation Board Director at Ontario Municipal Retirement System (OMERS), engaged in joint board strategic planning process and joint pension education sessions with and Administration Board (OMERS bicameral boards) Played a particular advocacy leadership role in advancing Re-thinking Fiduciary Duty and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Responsibilities.

Leadership Coaching

In addition to various advocacy services, I also make myself available to provide leadership coaching, also based on the skills and knowledge I have gained in nearly 30 years of advocacy experience in various union activism, senior leadership roles in CUPE Local 79, combined with extensive training and education in leadership coaching.

I believe there is relevant application of the training I have partaken in and lessons learned from my experience in senior leadership roles, particularly as President of CUPE Local 79. I aim to pass on these lessons through coaching others in their respective leadership roles in respective organizations, supporting you in leadership development and success in facing particular challenges in your own context. For instance, a discussion about how to build these lessons into leadership development would support people interested in developing their leadership skills in their particular context.

Broader Social Justice Advocacy

Although Representing workers through my union local and involvement in the broader labour movement in labour-community coalitions has been my core focus for much of my working career. I see efforts to represent the interests of workers through the labour movement as a form of social justice advocacy and activism. Union work is social justice work.

Through much of my years of advocating for workers, I have also increasingly advocated for labour-community collaborative activism with other social justice causes from income inequality, precarious employment in many sectors, migrant worker rights, gender equality, the housing and homelessness crises, equity and inclusion, systemic racism. Passion for activism with social justice allies on various causes has also been a personal priority, extending outside my work on these issues as part of collaborative social trade unionism, showing up to partake as an ally in marches and rallies for equal pay, migrant worker rights, transgender rights, Black Lives Matter, indigenous rights from calls for reconciliation to respecting land rights.

While labour and employment rights have been my core advocacy, there may be ways in which skills I have gained through experiences, education and training, from labour-community coalition-building, public speaking and communications, strategic planning, board governance could contribute to pursuing social justice causes, including collaborating with others in advocacy for legislative or policy change.