February 23, 2009
The Corrections Bargaining Team
is at the table again this week while members
across the province hold rallies to support the
team.
Last week, members held
successful rallies in Lindsay, Sudbury, North
Bay, Kenora, Thunder Bay, Cobourg, Napanee and
Toronto, including a well-attended lobby day at
Queen’s Park meeting with several MPPs.
At the table, the Corrections
Team is preparing to begin discussions on
essential services. The employer officially
notified the team on February 13 that they
wanted these talks to begin, and the Corrections
Team must comply with that request as per the
legislation.
“The team will review the
essential service agreements that are already in
place and look to discuss any significant
changes that are needed,” said David Kerr, team
chair. Kerr also assures members that it is the
team’s intent to keep discussing the members’
issues while the essential services talks take
place.
“Our goal is to come to a
negotiated settlement, not to bargain a strike,”
Kerr said. “However, we have serious concerns
with the employer’s current positions, and we
will not allow our members to be punished for
the Ministry’s failures in addressing
long-standing and systemic problems with working
conditions in facilities and community offices.”
Members are reminded once again
to ignore the rumours, and only rely on
information from trusted sources. The team will
send out updates as events unfold.
