 Bargaining
2008
The Premier’s office hears from Corrections and their supporters
February 23, 2009
David Kerr, chair of the Corrections bargaining team and
Roxanne Barnes, vice-chair of the Central/Unified bargaining team, delivered
9,000 letters from OPS members supporting Corrections to the Premier’s
office Feb. 17.
Kerr and Barnes met with Dalton McGuinty’s Deputy Chief of
Staff.
“We told him that if the Premier truly values our work, he
would give direction to the government negotiators to back away from their
punitive sick time plan and negotiate an agreement that benefits both
parties,” said Kerr.
The Deputy Chief of Staff listened closely to Kerr and
Barnes, said he would bring their concerns to the Premier’s attention, but
that elected officials couldn’t get involved in bargaining.
Kerr’s comment back was if the elected officials aren’t
controlling bargaining, then who is.
Kerr gives the Premier’s office credit for meeting with
OPSEU but said the union will hold McGuinty and the Liberals accountable for
what happens at the bargaining table.
The fight for Corrections is a fight for all members of the
OPS, said Barnes.
“We sent a message to the government that they need to come
to an agreement with our sisters and brothers in Corrections,” Barnes said.
The letters to the Premier were signed by OPS members during
the contract vote at the end of January. To read the letter,
click here.
Corrections Division members, and their supporters, are
stepping up the political pressure on the Liberals.
Information pickets have been held outside of MPPs
constituency offices and Liberal events in the Haliburton-Kawartha
Lakes-Brock by-election, including a fundraiser attended by numerous MPPs
and two cabinet ministers.
When the speeches began at the fundraiser, the first thing
organizers mentioned was that attendees had to come through snow and a
picket line. |
