Strike news from your Corrections Bargaining Team
April 24, 2002
“Better to die on our feet than live on our knees.” - Brigadier Kerla, Klingon High Command, Star Trek
Last second offer attempts to divide corrections
On April 23, almost immediately after OPSEU lifted the media ban on negotiations, the employer tabled a “comprehensive” position. This offer is nothing more than a clear attempt to divide the members of the corrections category.
Effective January 1, 2002, the employer is proposing a 4 per cent increase to all rates in the salary range for the Probation Officer 1 and 2 classes and the range for the proposed Probation Officer 3 class (which can be an open competition to the public).
The employer is also offering the PPOs “Schedule 6 Overtime”, which is nothing but a half-assed version of real overtime. In order to qualify, PPOs must give up their 5 comp days and be pre-approved to work 70 hours of OT to make up for those lost 5 days.
The employer has also offered:
· Special classification adjustments:
The creation of a Youth Officer classification, which makes it extremely easy to abolish all these officers under privatization. Could also affect redeployment rights.
The creation of a Probation Officer 3.
· A premium of sixteen dollars ($16.00) per shift shall be paid for all shifts that commence on or after three o’clock p.m., Friday, and end on or before seven o’clock a.m., Monday.
The rest of Corrections would receive 1.95 per cent per year, plus a 1 per cent increase in the first year in exchange for productivity and efficiency gains.
The employer still wants their call back language as proposed (this deals with phone calls at home).
Employer still ignores our demands
The employer has completely ignored our demands in regards to our autonomy issues, unclassified issues and, of course, has totally disregarded our wage demands. We have proposed creative adjustments to the wage grids that will provide wage recovery of the 12 per cent erosion that has occurred, and provide
maintenance of wages over the life of the collective agreement. That’s what a 98 per cent strike vote is supposed to achieve.
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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