SEARCH

 

March 4, 2005

Bargaining the members’ agenda

by Paul Myers, Central Bargaining Team, Region 5 Representative

Essential services bargaining started last October. Your bargaining teams have spent countless hours working to prevent any increases in numbers of essential/emergency workers as proposed by the employer. It seems the employer wants to prolong this process.

We now enter the month of March without completing essential/emergency negotiations. Your bargaining teams have had to focus solely on essential/emergency negotiations since we exchanged proposals on issues with the employer on Jan. 19.

We have put the employer on notice that we are beginning issues bargaining on Wed., Mar. 9. It is time for your bargaining teams to bargain the issues you asked for in this round of bargaining. Your bargaining teams are able to bargain issues and complete the remaining essential services negotiations at the same time. If the employer is able to walk and chew gum at the same time, they should have no problems as well.

It is time for the employer to show some respect - not only to the bargaining team, but to all OPSEU members in the Ontario Public Service. It is also time to see if the employer is serious about the value of the work we do, and whether the Liberal government really wants to rebuild public services.

Your bargaining teams need all members to tell the employer that we are serious about beginning issue bargaining. We need the employer to get the message that it is time to bargain a contract. Tell your managers, your MPP or the Cabinet Minister responsible for your ministry that it is time to get real at the bargaining table. We can then begin to put together the collective agreement you deserve.

Inmates bribed during last strike

An account of events at a correctional institution during the 2002 strike written by a scab manager from the Ministry of Finance shows that inmates were bribed and rewarded to keep them quiet while managers ran the facility.

For example, the manager says in his written account: “Normally, strict portions are observed but due to the strike and the two meals per day rule, inmates get as much as they want. It didn’t take long for the results of this interim policy to show up on their waistlines. One inmate, who was just released, left 60 lbs. heavier than when he came in, only five months ago.”

The scab manager further describes, with respect to the last meal the inmates were served just prior to the end of the strike: “At the last meal, inmates stuff their pockets with boiled eggs, sausages, bread and condiments, knowing full well that the 7-week ‘all you can eat’ buffets are over.”

Not only were meals extravagant but management also prepared and handed out 2–3 “goody bags” to each inmate weekly during the strike. Each goody bag contained: “1 coke (sic), 10 instant coffee packets, 10 sugars, 1 chocolate bar and 1 bag of potato chips.” Again, as the strike came to an end, the manager states, “Everyone then meets in Stores for the final ‘goody bag’ assembly line, this time doubling up the treats for the inmates.”

Apparently the rules around inmates going to bed went out the window as well, as the manager states: “Inmates were up past 0300 watching television.”

What this document or diary indicates is that the employer will go to any length to try to beat us. Bribing and rewarding criminals while the government locked us out of the institutions is disgusting. It should never be allowed to happen again.

If you would like a hard copy of the manager’s diary*, please e-mail the Corrections Bargaining Team at: corrections@bellnet.ca.

* Please note that some of the manager’s written comments are inappropriate or may offend.

Are You Ready?

Over the months we’ve distributed a number of mobilization tools for the membership to use. Here’s a quiz. You get one point for each question you answer “yes”.

Have you…

1. Worn a “No More Cuts” button?

2. Dressed for “Black Tuesday”?

3. Filled out a postcard?

4. Called an MPP lately (…faxed a letter…attended an information picket?)

(Any of the above in # 4 counts for 1 point…. all of the above counts for 3 points!)

5. Spoken to your supervisor about the fact that our demands are about fairness?

6. Have you seen the “No More Cuts” video or CD yet?

If you’ve answered yes to all of the above…. you’re mobilized! Share your news with someone else!

If you’ve answered “yes” to some of the above questions – the good news is – there’s still time to improve your score. Your bargaining teams need your support and this is how to do that. Get mobilized!

Spotlight on your work
(This is a new feature where we look at just some of the hundreds of jobs our members do. Enjoy!)

Outreach Co-ordinator

Office Administration - OAG 9

This outreach position into the community assists clients who are unable to get into the regional offices to get their health cards. The hospital and community center provides space and a telephone line with tables and chairs, at no cost to the ministry when possible.

The Outreach Co-ordinator and an Outreach Clerk (OAG 9) inspect the site once it is set up to ensure it is a safe work environment and one that has wheelchair access.

Advance notice is given in the communities where the program will be delivered with notices sent to doctors. It is specified that the service is by appointment only and clients have to call in to the Ministry of Health (OHIP Office) to set up the appointment.

This position involves traveling and possession of a valid driver’s license with some overnight travel.

Your bargaining team appreciates you and wants a collective agreement that respects the hard work that you do!

Oakridge Attendants

Oakridge Attendants perform dangerous work in the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services. They have knowledge and skills both in nursing techniques as well as in maintaining care, custody and control of inmates. They work with the criminally insane in often unpredictable situations in a maximum security facility.

The employer often treats the attendants disrespectfully, undervalues their work and fails to address many of their health and safety concerns. The attendants want respect!

The Corrections Bargaining Team has asked the employer to pay the Oakridge Attendants professional fees and we have also asked that Appendix 24 (unclassified seniority) also apply to our attendants.

Your bargaining team appreciates and recognizes the good work you and all your colleagues do!

The Sunshine Club – eighth edition

The Sunshine Club is the list of public service managers who earn over $100,000 per year. Here are the names for our eighth edition:

Name	Ministry	Current Position	2002 Salary	2003 Salary
Douglas Robinson	Ministry of Finance	Regional Audit Manager, Etobicoke	$156,207	Under 100k
Craig Barnes	Ministry of Education	Superintendent	$110,627	Under 100k
Jim Smith	Ministry of Environment	Director, Standards Development	$155,045	$119,631
Kalle Vaga	Ministry of Community & Social Services	Senior Manager, Planning & Support, Downsview	$104,565	Under 100k
Rosa Martelli	Ministry of Attorney General	Manager, Court Operations, Downsview	$109,113	Under 100k

 

 

 

In Corrections:

		(Strike Year)	(Non-Strike Year)
Name	Current Position	2002 Salary	2003 Salary
Brenda Irvine	Head Nurse, Monteith Correctional Centre	$147,125	Under 100k
Henri Guillemette	Regional Financial Administrator, Northern Region	$145,609	Under 100k
Jonathan Edwards	A/Director, Finance & Business Systems	$187,451	$112, 308
Ed McAndrew	Area Manager, Probation and Parole	$137,754	Under 100k
David Pinnegar	Superintendent, Stratford Jail	$153,653	Under 100k

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your OPSEU OPS bargaining teams

Central/Unified team:

Marg Simmons (Chair), Central Enforcement and Renewal Committee

Linda Thibert, OPSEU Region 1

Doug Peebles, Region 2

Kathleen Demareski, Region 3

Rhéal Delaquis, Region 4

Paul Myers, Region 5

Eric Morin (Vice-Chair), Region 6

John Watson, Region 7

Bob Houston, Administrative category

Brian Chauvin, Corrections

Carl Thibodeau, Institutional & Health Care

Sandra Noad, Office Administration

Beth Anich, Office Administration

Ken Fraser, Technical/Operational & Maintenance

Moira Cowan, Unclassified members

centralubu@bellnet.ca 

unclassified@bellnet.ca 

Corrections team:

Jack Hopkins, OPSEU Region 1

Barry Scanlon (Chair), Region 2

Glenna Caldwell, Region 3

Robert Curran (Vice-Chair), Region 4

Dave Graves, Region 5

Joe Wright, Region 6

Len Mason, Region 7

corrections@bellnet.ca 

The Source is your only accurate source of Central and Corrections bargaining team information. Do not rely on gossip and rumours. We will provide the facts. Your editors are Len Mason, Beth Anich and Moira Cowan. The Source is authorized for distribution by Barry Scanlon, chair, Corrections Team, Marg Simmons, chair, Central Bargaining Team and Leah Casselman, president.

Download this issue .pdf