Congratulations

Congratulations to the members of the Corrections division that were elected on the weekend to the Executive Board. Good luck and do us proud!

We have been busy answering a lot of questions about the latest lock talk. This course of action was not taken lightly by all concerned. I feel we needed to send a clear message to the employer that the proper way of doing business is through the Local Executive Committees and the MERC’s.

The tone and language used in the latest Lock Talk is strong for a reason. The Corrections Bargaining Unit has not been shown any respect. After nine month’s the Deputy Minister still hasn’t even met with the members of the MERC. That sends a clear message in itself. For the record the badge thing…we fought hard for that at the MERC level to get them for years…and the “Retirement Memorabilia” again brought up at the MERC table...our idea…I guess it sounds better when it’s your idea.

I don’t care what happened during bargaining, I wasn't there and it’s over. We do not need four years of being notified of changes to long standing policies and memo’s telling us of new practices without our meaningful input and participation. What is going to be next?

We are now back to normal relations and we have a proper way of doing business. I feel if we do not respect each others roles and positions we hold, then the last two years of building a stronger working relationship was just a waste of time.
The more things change the more they stay the same…

In Solidarity,

Dan Sidsworth

Welcome Back

Now that we are out of bargaining and back to MERC and LERC business I will be starting up the Blog again. I want to thank everyone who passed along their condolences after my father passed away. I have been busy on the home front and working in the local.

The Regional elections are this coming weekend with convention soon to follow. I am looking forward to reconnecting with everyone and starting to ramp up the business of the division. The MERC team met and caucused with each other for the first time this year on Monday at the OPSEU Milton membership centre. We discussed the various sub-committees and went over the issues together. The new collective agreement has definitely generated a lot of more work for the committee.

The first issue we will be dealing with is the Compensating Time. The employer has sent a very clear message to the membership and the MERC in how this was done. NO prior notification and No discussion. They have set the tone in which they want to do business with us. If this is how they want to conduct business with the membership and the elected representatives we will also change the way we do business.

The Corrections Division is known for its very difficult and challenging labour relations on a good day. With the removal of Compensating time, it is time remind the employer that we still have a very unified and strong division that can effect change. We want to be treated fairly and with respect. It is now time to remind the employer that the resolve of this division is without comparison. I firmly believe with all of us acting as one we can achieve anything.

In Solidarity,

Dan Sidsworth