What do a prison guard, a file clerk, a wine merchant and a college teacher have in common? They're all members of the Ontario Public Service Employees' Union; OPSEU for short.

You'll also be seeing a lot more of them over the next few days if you venture around the Nathan Philip's Square area on Queen West - this morning their annual convention begins. There will be a lot of interesting debate (assuming you're interested in trade unionism), but one issue that is head and shoulders above the rest... OPSEU will be debating this week as to if they should officially endorse the NDP in the upcoming provincial elections.

This will be a first for the union, and an idea that IMNAAHO, is ill-founded. Beyond the ill-advised strategy of supporting a party that is not likely to win, thus souring relations with the next government, is the unseemliness of public servants as a whole (as opposed to as individuals, which is another matter entirely) getting involved in choosing their bosses. A bad idea all around.

Still, this week is a time for OPSEU to celebrate everything they've achieved. So if you see on of them on the streets in the next few days, give them a smile - after all, they may be selling you booze next you meet.