CTO ISSUE…

I have not written anything for fourteen days, that being on April 04, 2009. In that entry I gave my opinion of what I saw developing and where I thought we should be going. I wrote:

“From the information I have, each local is setting up General Membership meetings. I believe these meetings can be used to empower all of us as a united group to discussed strategies for change. I prefer to see us move forward united and with strength. We should turn this situation into a positive one. You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing that we call 'failure' is not the falling down, but the staying down. ~ Mary Pickford

“If we choose to rescind our notification of withdrawing from the CWW agreement at this time we should all do it as one collective. We have shown our resolve. We have forced the employer back to the table to negotiate. We have shown we will fight hard for our CWW agreement. We wanted an action for CTO and are still on high alert. We have a lot more fight left in us.We can use this as an opportunity to move forward. We can all hold our heads up knowing how difficult this is and that we need to remain united”

Since that time the employer has met with OPSEU and after what sounds like posturing on both sides, the employer decided to walk away from the meeting with no desire to discuss and resolve the CTO issue. CTO is a negotiated benefit and this dispute will need a negotiated settlement.

We have not achieved our gaol of impacting the employer on how important this issue is to us collectively. Waiting for something to happen at the GSB will take too long. We must show the employer that we continue to have the resolve to influence a positive outcome for both sides.

I do understand the employer’s need to save money during this economic time. The various layers of bureaucracy have all been given their mandate to cut costs. We understand.

The number of Correctional Officers has remained stagnate for decades, with our workplaces falling into disrepair. When the too few facilities were built by the Ministry they cut corners to save costs on design, security and the number of Correctional Officers. (Maybe that’s why the pods are not square?) During this same time the numbers of police officers, judges, and crown attorneys have all increased, which resulted in an increased number of remanded inmates in the system. The irony being additional beds were never added to the system despite the new buildings.

The added workload has never been addressed with additional resources or modified procedures, so that we may continue work in healthy and safe workplaces. As we know there are many problems within Corrections. As Smokey has stated:

“We remain willing and ready to work with the employer to solve these problems. In the meantime, our members are refusing to take any more chances with their jobs…and their lives. I will always support my members who are following the rules – even if the system breaks down because of it."

There is a reason Corrections in Ontario is one of the few provinces that hasn’t had a major disturbance in the last five years. The members have gone above and beyond the call of duty on a daily basis. In the past we have taken the short cuts, strived to make things work when we know if we did things by the book, the resulting impact would have negative outcomes. Whether that be getting inmates out to court on time, working in over crowded ranges without proper staffing levels, or getting the bare essential duties completed just to be able to placate the inmate population.

This coming week OPSEU will be having its annual convention. This opportunity for the Corrections Division to Caucus together again is very timely and does not happen very often. The employer knows we will be taking full advantage of this. We will be organized, we will move forward together, and we will remain determined to resolve this issue.

Like the trains that run past the windows at my post like clock work, the time now has come that we can no longer ensure that the “trains run on time” in Corrections. Knowing that the sacrifices we make are at our expense. The time has past where we can turn a blind eye to all the short cuts we take on a daily basis. Our job is to make sure that we all get home to our families safely. It is the employer’s job to make sure all the resources are available for the system to operate and run on time.

Smokey hit the nail right on the head…without the memberships buy-in, the system will break down.

Stay safe, In Solidarity,

Dan Sidsworth

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Don’t punish us for following the rules

April 16, 2009

I have spoken a lot recently about problems in our correctional system. While there are many issues across every sector of our union, corrections keeps rearing its head because, quite frankly, it appears the employer wants the system to self-destruct.

Why do I say that? Actions by the employer over the past few months have defied any logical explanation. We have called repeatedly for the employer to address the overcrowding and deteriorating working conditions in our jails. Those calls have been largely ignored. We just finished a very contentious round of bargaining, and before the dust settles, the employer arbitrarily backs out of a decades-old agreement on compensating time owing for working overtime.

For years, correctional officers in our facilities have performed above and beyond the call of duty to make sure that their portion of the criminal justice system worked. One of their many responsibilities is to ensure that inmates are processed to go to court on a daily basis. But because of the overcrowding in our facilities, which worsens every year, correctional officers know what any rookie with two weeks on the job knows: If you follow the rules, the job will never get done.

So what happens? Some rules get ignored. Corners get cut. But all the inmates get out to court on time, and the judges have no complaints.

But now our members have had enough. Enough of having overcrowding in the jails ignored. Enough of the employer turning a blind eye to bad working conditions and spread of infectious diseases. Enough of cutting corners (and putting their safety at risk) so that the job will get done. Especially when all the employer seems to be interested in is destroying labour peace.
So now, our members ARE following the employer’s rules. And guess what? There are delays in the courts. And judges are getting angry.

Perhaps the Minister or these angry judges can answer some questions for our officers. Those questions are: What rules do you want us to break to get inmates out to court on time? What safety precautions do you want us to ignore? What security rules do you want us to breach? And lastly, what assurances will you give us that we won’t be hurt or disciplined if we do break those rules? Until then, I suggest that the judges talk directly to the Ministry and ask them why the system isn’t working. Don’t punish the workers for following the employer’s rules.

We remain willing and ready to work with the employer to solve these problems. In the meantime, our members are refusing to take any more chances with their jobs…and their lives. I will always support my members who are following the rules – even if the system breaks down because of it.

In solidarity,
Warren (Smokey) Thomas
President

My Take of the CTO

I have been following what has been transpiring and here is an update on what we have accomplished so far.

• We have gotten the attention of MGS who made this decision.
• Our policy grievance will have a stage two hearing this coming Tuesday.
• The heads of Corporate OPSEU and the Ministry are meeting this coming Week.
• The MERC will soon table CTO at the first meeting scheduled.
  
  From the information I have, each local is setting up General Membership meetings. I believe these meetings can be used to empower all of us as a united group to discussed strategies for change. I prefer to see us move forward united and with strength. We should turn this situation into a positive one. You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing that we call 'failure' is not the falling down, but the staying down. ~ Mary Pickford
  
  If we choose to rescind our notification of withdrawing from the CWW agreement at this time we should all do it as one collective. We have shown our resolve. We have forced the employer back to the table to negotiate. We have shown we will fight hard for our CWW agreement. We wanted an action for CTO and are still on high alert. We have a lot more fight left in us.
  
  We can use this as an opportunity to move forward. We can all hold our heads up knowing how difficult this is and that we need to remain united.
  
  In Solidarity,
  Dan S.

Retro and Salary Increases

The employer has notified the Union it will be proceeding with the payment of retroactive salary revisions and adjustments pursuant to the ratification of the 2009 – 2012 OPSUE Collective Agreement. The implementation schedule for these revisions is as follows:

May 14, 2009(Unified Bargaining Unit and Correctional Bargaining Unit)
· Across-the-board salary revisions and retroactive adjustments
· Retroactive payments of special adjustments

June 25, 2009 (Unified Bargaining Unit)
· Retroactive payment of general notes and allowances

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

Well everyone has read the OPSEU web site that a tentative deal is on the central table. A lot of rumours are out there about the details we need to wait for the facts before forming any opinions of course. And we are still waiting on the employer at the Corrections table. The Local Presidents, MERC members and Moblizers had the opportunity to hear from the chair of our bargaining committee that talks were continuing as of 2050hrs last night.

As negotiations continue not a lot of information could be shared with us other than the employer has not changed their position. The sick benefits continue to be the stumbling block. We have been asked to continue to show the employer we support the bargaining team in order to empower them at the bargaining table.

Things will go into a holding pattern over the Holiday Season. Don’t be alarmed if you don’t hear very much over the next two weeks. During this round of bargaining it was agreed that if no offer was on the table on or about the 23rd of December the two parties would meet again on January 05, 2009 to set essential service agreements. That does not mean our bargaining team is not willing to revisit the bargaining table between now and then.

As Smokey has said we should be proud of the work we have done. We are fighting the good fight.

For the rest of us we need to use the break to rest up for what is shaping up to be a tough fight. We should enjoy this time of year with our families and friends. Have a safe and great holiday, for our work has only just begun.

In Solidarity

Dan Sidsworth

Targeted benefits? THIS PLAN IS SICK

Correctional Officers and Youth Workers
are under attack.And eventually,every
member of the OPS will pay a heavy price.
Under the employers ’ proposal,,
Correctional Officers and Youth Workers
will be removed from the current OPS sick
leave plan,and management of their sick
leave will be given to a multi-billion dollar
insurance company.

If the thought of having your health in the
hands of a profit-driven company isn ’t
scary enough,it gets worse :

•Sick time is only accrued at a rate of
five hours per month,only if you have
full attendance that month .

•After four consecutive days of absence,
Correctional Officers and Youth
Workers immediately move to 66 2/3
per cent pay.

•If you do not have any sick time in the
bank,any absence that is less than
five consecutive days is unpaid .

•If the insurance company denies the
claim,the employee gets paid nothing.

•To add icing on the cake,the denial is
not grievable.An appeal must be made
to the Joint Insured Benefits Review
Committee.

Why is the employer doing this? Simple -
it ’s all about money.Correctional Officers
and Youth Workers have extremely high-
stress jobs in 24-7 operations.
Overcrowding,assaults,exposure to
disease and constant shift work all
take their toll.The result?Higher than
average sick time.

The employer wants to solve the
problem by punishing the victims .And
save a lot of money by not having to
replace workers.

This is all very bad.But the bigger
picture is grimmer.If the employer is
allowed to carve off specific workers from
the benefit plan,where does it stop?A
special plan for older workers who use
more drug and dental benefits?A stand-
alone group of OADs who have more
eyeglass claims?The opportunities for the
employer are endless.

The Corrections Team will continue
to fight this deliberate
and callous attack by
the employer.All other
members need to
support Corrections
on this …because
you might just be
next.
http://www.opseu.org/ops/barg2008/index.htm

An attack on sick leave is an attack on everyone

Corrections officers protest in Thorold

JAIL GUARDS' CONTRACT EXPIRES AT END OF YEAR

Posted By SAMANTHA CRAGGS, SUN MEDIA

Corrections officers have hit the streets in their bid for a new contract.

More than 100 workers from Ontario's 32 jails gathered outside Niagara Detention Centre in Thorold Thursday to protest what they say is the government's inaction in negotiating an agreement. The current contract for more than 40,000 Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) workers, including about 8,000 corrections officers, expires Dec. 31.

The workers held an information picket, chanting, "We want a contract, we want it now." They waved signs reading, "My job, your services, our communities" and, "All I want for Christmas is a fair contract."

The provincial side of the negotiations is handled by the Ministry of Government Services, which represents various ministries in the talks.
"We're here saying, 'Bargain with us,'" said Dan Sidsworth, a member of OPSEU's provincial employee relations committee and a Milton corrections officer.

A main issue for corrections workers is the overuse of "unclassified" officers, who often work full-time hours but are considered part time by the province, said John Mengia, president of OPSEU Niagara Detention Centre local 252. There are about 1,100 officers in Ontario who do not get benefits and are called at early-morning hours to go to work, he said. Some are considered "unclassified" after 15 years.

"I was unclassified for nine years," said 19-year veteran Carol Sousa, also local unit vice-president. "I was a single parent getting 5 a. m. phone calls and trying to arrange for a babysitter."

The province has committed more police officers for Ontario's streets, yet has not boosted the full-time complement of corrections officers to match it, Dave Willis, local chief steward, said. Instead, it hires more unclassified officers. "We don't have unclassified police officers," he said. "We're an arm of the law."

The one-day picket drew workers from jails in London, Toronto and elsewhere.
The workers played Hero by Foo Fighters on repeat and tried unsuccessfully to speak to a Niagara Detention Centre superintendent.

Negotiations have been ongoing, said Ciaran Ganley, a Ministry of Government Services spokesman. As for unclassified workers, Ganley said he could not discuss specific issues that may be part of negotiations. "The government is optimistic it'll reach an agreement that is both fair and equitable to the employees, and that balances the need to provide sustainable and affordable public services," he said.

There are about 150 corrections workers at the Niagara Detention Centre.

On the Record

Copied from the Official Records for December 09, 2008

CORRECTIONAL FACILITY EMPLOYEES

Mr. Robert W. Runciman: Back to the Premier. The people of this province are not the dupes you think they are and the police know that the person not doing his job is that minister.

Premier, again, back to the Auditor General's report in speaking to incompetence and mismanagement, which seem to be the order of the day with respect to his commentary. Particularly glaring, I believe, is the blatant abuse of sick leave among jail guards, taking an average of 32 days of sick leave a year. That's an increase of 63% since 2001, costing Ontarians $20 million a year. Premier, how could you have allowed this to happen? Is your minister AWOL on this file as well?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: I want to thank the auditor as well for this particular advice. Obviously, that rate of sick leave is unacceptable. There is obviously a serious problem associated with this. I've asked the minister to take a careful look at this, but I want to say to Ontario taxpayers that this is an unacceptable rate of absenteeism and sick leave. We're not prepared to accept it. We will do the necessary work to find out more precisely what is causing it and we'll do everything that we can to address it.

1040

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Mr. Robert W. Runciman: Well, last time I checked, this government had been in office for over five years. I will admit this has been a consistent problem in the system, but it has doubled on your watch. That's how significant this problem has become. The Auditor General pointed to one corrections facility that was privately operated until your ideological closure. When the government took over operation of that jail, privately operated, absenteeism jumped by 55% in one year. Talk about incompetence and mismanagement. Premier, I ask you again, why should Ontarians have any faith in terms of your government knowing how to manage their tax dollars efficiently? What specific steps are you taking? Let's hear some specific steps today, not these generalities. How are you dealing with this problem?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: The Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services can speak to that.

Hon. Rick Bartolucci: I thank the member again for the supplemental question. We have implemented a program to track absenteeism in our correctional facilities. We will continue to do that tracking. We will continue to work in a very, very proactive way with our partners in correction, the union and all levels in the correctional services part of our ministry, to ensure that we reduce that number, because, as the Premier said, that number is too high. It's not acceptable to me; it's not acceptable to this government; it's not acceptable to the opposition. And do you know what? It's not acceptable to the correctional services officers also.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Final supplementary.

Mr. Robert W. Runciman: What an enlightening response: "It's not acceptable." The minister, I think, has been in his job for over a year now. I have to suspect-he seemed to be completely caught off guard yesterday when he was asked about this, which has to be surprising, shocking and alarming with respect to this problem.

This problem has grown under his government's watch, dramatically grown. We're looking at this province being in a recession, hundreds of thousands of people losing their jobs, and you have government employees taking over a month off-paid leave, effectively. Over a year on the job, five years plus that this government has been in office, and you don't have anything but generalities, again saying, "We're concerned. We'r e concerned. We're concerned." Well, Ontario taxpayers, hard-working, honest Ontarians, want action, not words like " Concerned, concerned." When are you going to do something? Let us know what the specifics are.

Hon. Rick Bartolucci: Well, let me speak a little bit more slowly, then. We have implemented a program to track absenteeism in our correctional institutions. I think that's very proactive. We will continue to work with our partners in correctional services to diminish that number. I think that is proactive. And we will continue to be very proactive with all our partners to ensure that that number comes down. We've all agreed that that number is too high, and we're going to work together to ensure that the number comes down.

Picket planned for Niagara DC

Local 252 at the Niagara Detention Centre invites all members to an information picket Dec. 18 from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. on.

Management prevented unclassified correctional officers from attending the unclassified rally in Toronto on Dec. 10 by scheduling them that day for mandatory four-hour training.

“This is a classic intimidation tactic that is typical of management at NDC,” said Kristy Grahame, Local 252 steward and provincial unclassified mobilizer. “If our officers can’t go to Toronto to support OPSEU, we'll bring OPSEU to them!”

Local media and MPPs have been invited to the rally, and food and beverages will be provided.

Contact Kristy at Kristyrocks24@hotmail.com.

SICK DAZE

This article ran today in the Globe and Mail newspaper. I have copied the first part of the article that speaks about the high level of sick time in Ontario Jails.

Prisons under stress from sick leave abuse

KAREN HOWLETT

Globe and Mail Update
December 8, 2008 at 1:21 PM EST

Correctional officers in Ontario prisons took an average of 32 sick days last year and some more than doubled their annual salary by working overtime, the province's Auditor-General says in his annual report tabled on Monday.
The 498-page report covers a range of topics, including a backlog of cases in provincial courts, the loss of an estimated $500-million in tax revenues through the sale of contraband cigarettes and the construction of a hospital under a public-private partnership that cost much more than if the province had done it on its own. In all, provincial auditor Jim McCarter conducted 14 so-called, value-for-money audits in his sixth annual report.
This was not the first time Mr. McCarter examined what he described as “serious problems” with the absenteeism of correctional officers, including those who abuse sick leave and overtime provisions, in the province's 31 prisons. Some of the absenteeism was suspicious, including those who called in sick on the weekend preceding Thanksgiving, only to turn up for work on the Monday, when they earned twice the hourly rate for working a holiday.
The government has been ineffective in dealing with this problem, the report says, which has resulted in the province spending an extra $9-million last year for replacement staff and $11-million in overtime costs for correctional staff.
Substitute officers are paid overtime at 1.5 times the hourly rate. Some have been able to more than double their annual salary to $140,000 by working overtime, the report says.
The auditor blames low morale among officers for the problem, which has only gotten worse. Absenteeism has soared from just 12 days in 1995 to 32 last year and varies widely among institutions. In one, 82 per cent of workers missed an average of 11.5 days.
No one ever gets fired for poor attendance. When excessive absenteeism occurs at a prison, it often has no choice but to impose lockdowns, the report says. In 2007, there were 235 lockdowns because of staff shortages.
The prisons are overcrowded, with some operating at more than 100 per cent capacity, largely because of a backlog of cases awaiting trial in the province's courts. Nearly 70 per cent of inmates are in custody awaiting court appearances simply because it takes the courts longer to dispose of criminal cases, the report says. Over the past decade, the time taken to dispose of cases has climbed 11 per cent to an average of 205 days.

For the complete article go to: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081208.wont_auditorreport1208/BNStory/National/home

This is an audit by the provinces Auditor-General. We just happen to be in bargaining, but I’m sure there is no connection. That said all an auditor would care about is how much it costs as apposed to what is the cause.


Factors such as Higher work loads and no increase in staffing levels in more than twenty years; higher levels of violence; aging infrastructure (some jails predate confederation); over crowding; (placing three inmates into cell originally built for one); no joint employee return to work program; no peer assistance program; no post tramatic stress assistance. These are all factors which other jurisdictions have or are currently discussing with their bargaining agents.


For the record sick time in Ontario Jails is not significantly higher then in other provinces in Canada. The question that everyone should be asking is why is it so high and what has the industry done to cope with the causes.


We need to take ownership of the issue. What have we done to help ourselves? The MERC has advocated for positive changes that would have positive impact on sick time. Things like a joint employee / employer accommodation committee; a joint post tramatic stress disorder study; peer counselling; more lateral movement for members in the bargaining unit;

All the employer has come back with is delays in any meaningful discussions, and bargaining for the removal of sick time and limiting compensation for working overtime. With the politicians declaring a hiring freeze in the OPS, things are only going to get worse. Everyone better plan on more lock downs for a long time.

In Solidarity,

Dan Sidsworth

Bargaining Update

The corrections bargaining committee has sent word that they have received an comprehensive package from the employer today. Apparently something across the province earlier this week has changed their mind about bargaining.

The committee will spend the next several days going over the document and will let us know more when they can. Bargaining being like a game of chess, we know not to ask what the strategies are but only when to move… Please remember that when you listen to or spread rumours about bargaining you under mind the process.

In solidarity,

Dan sidsworth

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

One of our members from Local 369 (CNCC) wrote this, please read…

• Elementary School teachers enjoy summers off.
• Elementary school teachers spend Christmas, march break and every weekend with their families
• Elementary School Teachers eat dinner with their families every night
• Elementary teachers enjoy high job satisfaction
• Elementary teachers have job security, and enjoy a safe work environment
• Elementary school teachers have what is highly regarded as the best pension plan
• Elementary school teachers currently have a deal on the table from our cash strapped government that will see their top rate of pay exceed $95,000 per year, almost a full $3000.00 a month more than us???

• Correction officers work shift work that has been proven to reduce life expectancy and greatly affect quality of life.
• Correction officers miss their children’s school plays and sporting events while they are working on weekends
• Correction officers work in a hostile environment where their safety could be at risk on a daily basis
• Correction officers don't eat dinner with their families every night
• Correction officers do not enjoy high job satisfaction
• Correction officers do not have a high end pension with a built in cost of living index
• Correction officers work family holidays and miss out on numerous important family outings
& gt;

So we die younger (not that our pension is that good anyway), work most holidays, don't get to eat dinner with our families, have a high stress job that places our personal safety on the line each day, yet we get paid $3000 dollars a MONTH less than elementary school teachers. Isn't there something wrong with this picture? This has nothing to do with the Elementary school teachers, they deserve everything they get. But so do we. Knowing the big picture, (shift work, weekends, holidays, pension, safety, job satisfaction etc.) I would still think it was unfair if we made $1000 a month less than them, and that would put us at $83,000 a year base.

If you need something else to think about, please remember that the majority of our members work in the GTA. This is supposed to be a profession that provides a fair standard of living. Anyone bought a house and put their kids in hockey in the GTA lately? Economic back drop aside, I think we are due.

Just my opinion.

RALLY UPDATES

Copied from flyer________________________________________
Hello Union Brothers and Sisters,

On Wednesday, December 10, 2008, there will be a rally in Toronto for ALL Unclassified OPSEU workers to let our voice be heard. I am stressing that this is NOT just a Corrections event, even though the rally starts at that Ministry building. This rally represents all unclassified staff in the OPS. We are hoping that you can get this information to your members and encourage their participation in this event.

DECEMBER 10: "FIGHT FOR OUR RIGHTS" DAY A rally for Unclassified OPSEU workers

12:00 PM -25 Grosvenor St. ( Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional
Services Building)
followed by a solidarity march to
-77 Wellesley Street (Government Building representing several
Ministries)

More than ONE in FIVE OPSEU members are unclassified in the OPS, which 90% of them work full-time hours!!! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! Let's "RESTORE DIGNITY" to our unclassified members during this round of bargaining.

How can anyone be expected, for years at a time, to balance work, life, health. and family, without having a schedule, benefits, job security, or even a glimmer of hope for a full-time position????

December 10 is a day to LET OUR VOICE BE HEARD!! We need to get the message to the Ontario Government, who claim to be one of the TOP 100 EMPLOYERS, that we deserve EQUAL TREATMENT FOR EQUAL WORK, and that we need STRONGER LANGUAGE in our Collective Agreement to protect us! The government needs to get the message that retaining qualified, skilled employees will continue to be a problem in the Ontario Public Service Sectors, if they do not offer OPSEU members GAINS that are worth staying for!!!

December 10 also happens to be the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. ARTICLE 23 (2) states that "Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work"!!!

We encourage full time staff to support their unclassified union brothers and sisters on this day, in a struggle that affects almost 14, 000 members. Thank you for your support!
LET OUR VOICE BE HEARD!
UNITED WE BARGAIN, DIVIDED WE BEG!

In Solidarity,
Kristy Grahame
Unclassified OPSEU Provincial Mobilizer
________________________________________

• Brockville jail/SLV is holding an info picket on Dec 10th in front of the courthouse.

• North Bay Jail is having a barbeque in a burn barrel and a porta- potty set up for Dec 10th.

• CECC is having a barbeque in support for the Dec 10th.

• Toronto Jail is holding an info picket and barbeque on Dec 12th.

I will post more rally's as I am notified.
________________________________________
What are you doing to support and empower the bargaining teams?

In Solidarity,

Dan Sidsworth

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