WINKLER SPEAKER SERIES IN INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS

Delivered by: Mr. Warren (Smokey) Thomas
President, Ontario Public Service Employees Union
Industrial Relations Programs

Warren (Smokey) Thomas was first elected President of the 130,000-member Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) in 2007. A union activist for more than three decades, Smokey is known as a fierce defender of public services and a high-profile critic of the current Liberal government in Canada’s largest province. Under his leadership, OPSEU has led a very public battle against the privatization of public services and the use of overpriced “public-private partnerships” to pad corporate profits with public dollars. With an affable manner and a reputation for straight talk, Smokey has been called “the most trusted labour leader in the province.”

A Registered Practical Nurse, Smokey began his career as an OPSEU activist at the psychiatric hospital in his home town of Kingston, Ontario, rising to the position of local president before being elected to the union’s executive board and serving six years as First Vice-President/Treasurer prior to becoming President.

Smokey has been re-elected four times as President, and has served continuously in that role for nine years. Smokey is married to Val Thomas and is the father of five sons.