Strike news from your Corrections Bargaining Team
March 13, 2002
“The struggle may be a moral one, or it may be a physical one, or it may be both. But it must be a struggle. Power concedes nothing without a demand; it never has and it never will.” - Frederick Douglas, 1857
Rotating pickets cause havoc
Correctional facilities across Ontario took to the picket lines last night. In every region, staff in institutions either began their legal strike at midnight, or decided that early morning would work better and walked out then.
This very legal action took management by complete surprise. Management in many workplaces decided to lock out our workers and implement the Essential Services Agreements before the local had actually decided what time they would be withdrawing their services.
“Why the employer would not want their workplace to have a full compliment is beyond me,” said Len Mason, Corrections Bargaining Team Member. “Our members were more than willing to come in for their regular shift and management arbitrarily decided to lock them out and go to reduced staffing levels.”
The Corrections Bargaining Team wanted a staggered strike action so that we could get a better feel for the Essential Services Agreements, and therefore be proactive in dealing with any public safety issues that might arise.
Call the Mob Room with questions
The Corrections Bargaining Team asks that members call the OPSEU Mobilization Room with any questions around Essential Services Agreements and arbitrated awards. Your bargaining team is extremely busy strategizing and mobilizing their locals and are not always available at the bargaining centre.
You can reach the Mob Room at 1-877-561-8692.
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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