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
