Strike news from your Corrections Bargaining Team
April 19, 2002
Oh, workers, can you stand it? Oh, tell me how you can.
Will you be a lousy scab, or will you be a man?
Don’t scab for the bosses, Don’t listen to their lies.
Us poor folks haven’t got a chance, unless we organize.
- Florence Reece, 1932
Still waiting
Your Corrections Bargaining Team is still waiting for the employer to recognize us as a bargaining team.
“We keep hearing rumours of all kinds of deals flying our way,” said Rick Dagenais, Corrections Bargaining Team member. “The truth is that we have been ready to talk since Day 1, but the government does not want to bargain with us as a separate entity.”
“The employer is constantly leaking misinformation to the media,” Dagenais said. “I want to remind the members of our category to ignore all rumours and the government’s propaganda! Unless you read it here in the Burn Barrel, it is only a rumour.”
Updates from the Regions
Region 1
“Key” issues being dealt with
Local 128 (Sarnia Jail) and Local 135 (Windsor Jail) had their respective hearings before the OLRB this week with respect to return to work protocols. A set of keys that have gone missing at the Sarnia Jail have become an obvious snag, and the parties have agreed to meet locally to determine if there is any way
to deal with the issue safely. The hearing has been adjourned. During the Sarnia hearing the employer disclosed that the same keys affected the operation of the Windsor Jail. As a result, the board adjourned the Windsor hearing under the same conditions that applied to Sarnia. The union has asked the employer to disclose if any other
institutions are affected. Local 108 (Elgin-Middlesex D.C.) and Local 119 (Stratford Jail) appear before the Board next week to deal with return to work proposals.
It seems that the managers at Local 122 (Bluewater Y.C.) were a little more confused than usual when staff showed up last Saturday night dressed in various outfits. All was going well until managers decided to harass and intimidate one of our members, causing the remainder of the shift to come to her aid and
ensure her safety. Those members have been locked out since last Sunday, and the local is working on a return to work protocol with the employer.
Region 2
Caught by their own documents
A ruling by the OLRB this week concerning Local 218 (Burtch C.C.) confirmed an agreement between the Union and management to continue to staff empty units on weekends. Under the essential services agreement at Burtch, hundreds of inmates were to be housed during weekends in a number of units, and those units
were to be staffed by essential workers.
Ministry officials decided unilaterally, before the first weekend of the strike, to give passes to most intermittent inmates across the province. They then tried to blame the strike and the union for the releases.
The ministry was forced to back down when confronted with their own information. They have agreed to continue to staff the completely empty living units on weekends until the end of the strike.
Region 3
“Whatever it takes”
Region 3 continues to support the bargaining team and has given direction to the team to do “whatever it takes” to get a good contract.
“Our members have been kicked around long enough,” said Larry Cripps, Corrections Bargaining Team member. “We are in this for the long haul and we are not ready to accept anything less than what our members directed us to get for them. A 98 per cent strike vote was a clear message to the employer that we are
very serious.”
Local 341 (Millbrook C.C.), Local 337 (Brookside Y.C.), Local 307 (Lindsay Jail) and Local 359 (Whitby Jail) are all out on work refusals under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Local 307 (Penetanguishene Mental Health Centre, Oak Ridge Division) is working to the letter of the Essential Services Agreement.
Region 4
Picket lines strong
The picket lines remain strong around Region 4. As of Apr. 18, the following institutions remain out: Local 411 (Ottawa-Carleton D.C.), Local 467 (Quinte D.C.), Local 438 (Rideau C.T.C.), and Local 440 (Brockville Jail).
It is apparent that the employer does not want our members in the institutions at all. At OCDC, the superintendent has tried his hardest to delay negotiation of a return to work protocol. The OLRB has now ordered the negotiation of a return to work protocol. The superintendent then had to be ordered to allow a
site inspection by worker reps. He suggested a search beginning late at night. The Board vice-chair ordered an eight-hour search starting at 8 a.m.
Local 453 (Cornwall Jail) and Local 447 (Pembroke Jail) continue to hang tough.
“I am very impressed with the solidarity and steady resolve shown by the membership in Region 4,” said Jim Bothwell, Corrections Bargaining Team member.
Region 5
Showing resolve
Local 582 (Toronto East D.C.), Local 517 (Toronto West D.C.), and Local 521 (Mimico C.C. and TYAC) are at their safe place on the picket line due to ongoing work refusals.
Local 530 (Toronto Jail) has recently negotiated a back to work protocol, and both parties need time to get organized to search the facility and comply with the OLRB order.
“Members at these institutions have clearly stated that they won’t accept anything but an ‘A’ contract,” said Dave Graves, vice-chair of the Corrections Bargaining Team. “The resolve of the members in Region 5 is strong.”
Region 6
Trying to get protocols
Three out of six locals in Region 6 were busy at the OLRB this week, negotiating their back to work protocols. These locals have all had problems negotiating with the local management, and the OLRB was forced to intervene. Local 608 (Sault Ste. Marie Jail) only took a few minutes to deal with the issues as the
local already did most of the legwork. Local 616 (North Bay Jail) was a little trickier as their local president has been illegally denied access to conduct his work site tours. Local 617 (Sudbury Jail) still remains without a back to work protocol as the hearing was adjourned until next week.
The remainder of the institutions in the region remain rock solid. They are either negotiating locally on how to get their members back in, or have just recently done so.
Region 7
Morale high
Local 718 (Fort Frances Jail) and Local 719 (Kenora Jail) are both without essential service members due to health and safety violations. Management’s ineptitude at providing a secure environment is the cause of both work refusals.
“Morale is high on the line as members pass the time playing cards, chess and informing the public about the importance of professional public services,” says Chris Bonner-Vickers, president of Local 718.
“Morale on the line at the Kenora Jail is great,” says Susan Garneys, secretary of Local 719. “Members are exercising their democratic rights under freedom of speech to educate and inform slugs who cross our line. We have some pretty intense euchre tournaments, and the football seems to be flying all over the
place, smashing into our burn barrels and the trailer.”
One retired manager and a couple of managers from other ministries were brought out of hibernation in Kenora and had trouble crossing the picket line as they reported to provide scab labour at the facility.
Local 737 (Thunder Bay Jail) has been out over a week as the employer has failed time after time to provide a safe and secure environment for its workers. “Management refuses to acknowledge the valid health and safety concerns of its staff,” says Josh Miller, chief steward for Local 737. “Members are having a
great time yelling at scab managers, playing hockey and watching the seagulls decorate ministry property,” said Josh.
IMPORTANT! Send us the information!
Please send all pertinent information regarding significant local incidents, reprisal complaints, work refusals, illegal lockouts, and health and safety appeals, as well as discipline and/or suspensions, to both:
Sue Philpott, Koskie/Minsky - Barristers & Solicitors
Phone: (416) 977-8353 ext. 2104 Fax: (416) 204-2882
and:
The Corrections Bargaining Team Fax: (416) 815-1412
ESA Questions & Answers
Attention members:
Please call the OPSEU Central Mob Room at 1-877-561-8692 with your questions around Essential Services Agreements and arbitrated awards. Your bargaining team is very busy strategizing and are not always available at the bargaining centre.
Inquiries may be referred to other areas that can deal with specific issues around your questions.
Corrections team members
Region 1: Jack Hopkins, L. 122
Region 2: Barry Scanlon, L. 230 (chair)
Region 3: Larry Cripps, L. 309
Region 4: Jim Bothwell, L. 467
Region 5: Dave Graves, L. 521 (vice-chair)
Region 6: Rick Dagenais, L. 642
Region 7: Len Mason, L. 737
You can reach the bargaining team at (416) 815-0284 or by e-mail at correctionsteam@opseu.org.
The Burn Barrel will be available by fax, by e-mail, and on the OPSEU web site at www.opseu.org . To receive it directly, send your secure fax number to Lesley Williams at (416) 443-1762 or send your e-mail address to
lwilliams@opseu.org.
The Burn Barrel is authorized for distribution by Barry Scanlon, chair, Corrections Bargaining Team, and Leah Casselman, president.
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