A Little Respect

I received this email below recently and decided to post it here. It has some good points. Why is it that only during contract time people start talking about showing "RESPECT" from the employer for the work that we do? Maybe it should start with us honouring those of us who have fallen in the line of duty.

I have said before, we don't need a hunk of rock at Queens Park to stand in front of to honour those who paid the ultimate price. Having a memorial for fallen peace officers does not make a lot of sense when we don’t even have a ceremony for ourselves. Do we want to be taken seriously only once every three or four years? When bargaining is done and we have a contract, we need to show the public and each other that we are serious.

Please read below


Dan,

Earlier this year McGinty took a trip to Las Vegas. He attended the International Firefighters Association (IFFA) convention. He also gave a speech to the membership. McGinty was wined and dined while he was there. All Canadian firefighter associations are dues paying members of the IFFA.

On October 3rd this year the Ontario firefighters started a campaign to raise $500,000 to repair their Memorial at Queen's Park. Earlier this year paint was slopped on it, and now the firefighters want to replace the Memorial. The Ontario government contributed $100,000 to the fund on October 3rd to kick off the campaign.

The government had put up $500,000 in 2000 for the firefighters memorial to be built, and in 2003 McGinty attended the ceremony to dedicate it.

The government had put up $750,000 in 1999 for the police memorial at Queen's Park, and Harris attended the dedication in 2000.

Bill 131 was introduced in the legislature before the last election. The Bill had to be reintroduced after the October 2007 election, and became Bill 51.

Bill 51 is for an Ontario Peace Officers memorial and it has sat at first reading since April 2008, and is not moving.

The total of $1,350,000 has been spent on the police and firefighters memorials. This does not include the additional awards ceremonies that are also held throughout the year to prop up these two bunches to the tune of another $500,000.

There is now a national firefighters memorial being built at Parliament Hill in Ottawa.

It would seem that if McGinty can take trips to big american conventions and be wined and dined, and give out exhorbitant amounts of money to these two groups in tough times, he had better be ready to face up to Ontario's peace officers and other government employees at contract time.

Anyway, the number of fallen correctional officers is now up to 16, and total number of fallen peace officers is up to 36, so far...

Mobilizing Rally's

Two updates to pass along to everyone.

On December 01 there will be a rally at E.C. Dury School for the Deaf in Milton at 215 Ontario Street South. This is located between Dairy rd. and Main Street. The rally is to show support for the unclassified members in the OPS.

The second being on December 10 will be a rally in support of the Central and Corrections bargaining teams.

The rally is to show “RESPECT” and support for unclassified issues in the OPS and our division as well as bringing media attention to the issues at our table.

The rally will start at 12:00 at 25 Grosvenor in Toronto (MCSCS World Headquarters) with a show of solidarity ending one block over at 77 Wellsley. Busses are being arranged so please contact your local presidents and mobilizer’s.

The two rallies are to show support for each other and to send the message to the employer. On December 10 the bargaining team will have only 13 days left in which to bargain for a new contract. Get informed, get active, get involved.

A strong show of support will send a clear message to the Ministry and to the government. We are serious about getting a renewed C.A. and we will fight for our rights!

In Solidarity,

Dan Sidsworth

Listeria Found In Food Supplied To Prisons

Meals at area detention centres could be affected

Cassandra Drudi, The Ottawa CitizenPublished: Sunday, November 23, 2008

Inmates at the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre and six other correctional facilities in Ontario have been warned that they may have been exposed to listeria after a food sample from the facility that makes meals for the correctional institutions tested positive for the bacterium.

On Friday, Eurest Dining Services, the operator of the correctional services food production facility located on the grounds of the Maplehurst Correctional Centre in Milton, Ont., informed the Halton Region Health Department that a sample of food had tested positive for listeria monocytogenes. The samples were taken from food that may have been consumed between Nov. 13 and 16.

In a news release issued late yesterday afternoon, Dr. David Williams, the province's acting chief medical officer of health, asked individuals who were incarcerated at the seven institutions between Nov. 13 and 16 to seek medical attention if they develop symptoms of listeriosis, which include vomiting, nausea, diarrhea and severe headache.

Staff at the seven affected correctional facilities were notified last night, said Stuart McGetrick, spokesman for the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services. Notices about the potential listeria exposure have been posted in places where staff and inmates can see them, and inmates have been told to tell staff if they have any concerns.
"We've done everything we can to make sure staff and inmates are informed," Mr. McGetrick said.

The ministry has also stopped serving any food from the production facility as a precautionary measure.

The facility provides 9,000 meals each day to about 4,500 inmates at seven of the province's 31 correctional facilities. Meals made at the facility are frozen and sent to the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre, the Maplehurst Correctional Centre and Vanier Centre for Women in Milton, the Central North Correctional Centre in Penetanguishene, the Central East Correctional Centre in Lindsay, the St. Lawrence Valley Correctional Centre and Treatment Centre in Brockville and the Brockville Jail.

While the production facility prepares and implements a plan to sanitize the plant and equipment, Eurest has acquired meals from other producers.
"There's been no interruption at all in meal service to the inmates," Mr. McGetrick said.

Earlier this year, listeriosis outbreak at Maple Leaf Foods sparked a nationwide recall of deli meats.

© The Ottawa Citizen 2008

Tuesday November 18, 2008

I was at the GSB today assisting council and G.O. on a policy grievance dealing with remedy for missed overtime opportunities under the Provincial Overtime Protocol.

The employer’s position in a nutshell is a shift in kind, and that they should not be held accountable under the protocol for making mistakes, whether intentional or by poor management.

The Unions position is simple…the employer cannot provide another method of compensation that would not compound the error, and therefore must compensate an individual who has missed an opportunity monataraly in order to make them whole.
I feel in order to continue to have the P.O.P. appear open and transparent, this remedy must remain in place.

The lawyer assigned to the case is the same council that argued the original GSB decision known as the “Jerry Lee” decision out of the old Guelph C.C. in 2001. We could not have had better council, to present this case.

When the Vice Chair writes her decision I will report it here.

In Solidarity,

Dan Sidsworth

THE MERC MARCHES ON

I am proud to have been re-elected to the MERC for a second term. I am humbled and feel privileged to have been given this opportunity once again.

With the strong connections I have developed with the AIS Locals, and the very close ties to P&P, I feel I have a strong base in which to voice our concerns and issues to the employer.

Whether that is in relation to fighting for more changes in the workplace or advocating on behalf of individuals concerns. I have been given once again the awesome opportunity and responsibility to represent the most dynamic and militant Division in the OPS.

To those who supported me this past weekend, thank-you.

In Solidarity,

Dan Sidsworth

MERC TEAM ELECTED

On Sunday, November 16th at the OPS Divisionals the Corrections MERC Team was elected:

Eddie Almeida (Chair)
Gord Longhi (Vice-Chair)
Paul Johnstone
Dan Sidsworth

For The Week Of November 07 2008

I had the opportunity to take my daughter to work as part of the "take a student to work day". She spent the day with me at the GSB. The case dealt with protecting bargaining unit work. After a two hour drive, the day was spent listening to the lawyers and agreeing to identify the issues of the grievance. The employer’s argument having changed is finally on record.

I believe we were successful and have more dates scheduled... of course… Welcome to the GSB!

Before we head into the OPS Divisional meetings this weekend I want to thank everyone I have worked with over these past two years. I feel privileged to have had the honour to represent the division and to have had the opportunity to encage the employer on so many issues.

I have been warmly welcomed at all the locals I have managed to visit in the course of our duties, in both the Community and Institutions. I want to recognize the dedication and work that has been done by the members of MERC, the Provincial Health and Safety Team, and the Systemic and Anti-Racism and Organizational Change Committee members.

In addition I want to thank all the Local Executive Members who without your dedication our Division would not be recognized as the strongest and most militant in the OPS.

I pause, looking back over the past two years and can not explain how fast it has passed by. I recall the accomplishments but my most vivid are the friendships we have made and the loss of strong activists, including Brothers Curt Bishop, and Steve Timmins.

Thank you

In Solidarity,

Dan Sidsworth

News from the Corrections Bargaining Team

The CORRECTIONS BARGAINING TEAM is calling on all bargaining unit members who are acting in management assignments to step down and return to their bargaining unit positions by November 12th.

For Corrections facilities that would include all COs, and other institutional staff in who are acting as Operational Managers , department supervisors or in any management capcity.

For Community Corrections it would include Probation and Parole Officers acting as Assistant Area Managers, Area Managers or any other management assignment.

All bargaining unit members acting in non-management assignments that are in the bargaining unit or are AMAPCEO positions are not being asked to step back.

Please support your Bargaining Team and your Corrections Division.

In Solidarity,

Dan Sidsworth

Message from CNCC

I have been asked by Local 369 (CNCC) to help pass along a message to all Locals. It seems the local administration wants to be on the employers bargaining team. Has the employers bargaining team moved to CNCC ? Management has taken to bargaining directly with the members.

They have singled out 14 members suspecting them of abuse of sick time. These fourteen members have been removed from the overtime hiring protocol. They are not permitted by the employer to work overtime.

Staff attendance/sick time is a bargaining issue for the Ministry and they are trying to gage the reaction of the members by giving direction to attack members regarding their attendance. The Local administration is attempting to test our resolve and our willingness to stand up for our rights.

The timing of this action is not appropriate. The membership sees this for what it is, a cheap bargaining tactic to put pressure on the members during negotiations.
Once again management is displaying their belief that the membership is not solid enough to stand together! The members at CNCC will do their part and will react appropriately.

Now is a very crucial time and we will stand together. Both for this issue and others that we will be faced with in the near future. This is the beginning and only the first step by the Ministry in the bargaining process.

They will push us as far as they can to see how much we will stand for!

Contact Local 369 LEC for more information. (705-549-1496)

In Solidarity,

Dan Sidsworth

Opening Positions

The Corrections Bargaining Team and the MERC Team is sending out a joint message to all Locals.

By now must of us have read the opening positions at the bargaining table (http://www.opseu.org/ops/barg2008/opening_positions-corrections.htm) or have spoken with one of the bargaining team members. The employers list of concessions with no details or outline of their position as an opening proposal is simply no way to bargain.

If the Government is to bargain in good faith like Dwight Duncan said they were going too, then why not empower their bargaining team to really bargain.

The Corrections Bargaining Team has stated “We can expect that these takeaways will have a drastic effect on the working conditions and rights of our members.” We need to start this round of contract negotiations off on the right foot. This is not the right way to go about it. We need to send the right message to the right people.

As a first step the two teams are asking Locals and all members to not participate in the Deputy Minister Focus Groups. To be clear, cease and desist. We need to send a wake-up call to the Minister.

That message is we are serious about negotiating a new collective agreement and we are outraged at the employer’s proposals. WE will continue to support the members WE elected and are confident in their ability to represent us.

In addition each local president should express their concerns to their local management that if they wish to bargain in this manner, it will have direct impact in the workplace. Labour relations will be tested.

In Solidarity,

Dan Sidsworth

For The Week of October 31st

This week I participated in one of the many Grievance Settlement Board sessions that happen each year. I was asked to assist with a group grievance. The grievance was about the serious misuse of the internet and accessing inappropriate sites in the workplace.

The arbitrator deals with cases like this in the private sector and made it very clear to the employer and the union, that case law in this area is newer and still developing. He was direct in stating that there is little to no tolerance or sympathy for employees that engage at accessing inappropriate sites and materials at work. In most cases this kind of conduct results in dismissal.

The settlement saw a slight reduction in the overall discipline meted out to the members. A joint letter from the Assistant Deputy Ministers and the MERC members was written. The letter reaffirms our commitment to the spirit and intent of the policies regarding the appropriate use of information technology resources and Workplace Discrimination and Harassment Prevention.

We all benefit when the environment in which we work is respectful of the individuals within it. This is something we are all committed to as activists in our workplaces.

In Solidarity,

Dan Sidsworth