The Factual Report on Corrections Negotiations

Issue 21 - January 31, 2002

“Great discoveries and advances are made by those who don’t follow a beaten path.” - Ronald J. Neroda

Employer still refuses to talk

Another week with no movement at the bargaining table. While your bargaining team mobilizes and strategizes in Toronto, members from across the province are gearing up for a fight with the government.

Some of our demands are:

Unclassified other than Seasonal, Students and GO Temps:

I. New COR Article which will provide for:

· Seniority for unclassified employees to be accrued at each worksite on the basis of all straight time hours worked back to the first break in employment greater than 13 weeks.
· This Seniority is to be used solely amongst the ranks of the unclassified employees at a given worksite for the purposes of job competitions, layoffs and transfers in a manner similar to that used for Classified Employees.
· When an unclassified employee is appointed to the Classified Service the provisions of Article 18 (Seniority - Length of Continuous service) will apply.

II. New COR Article which will provide for:

Conversions -- Each 1732.75 or 1912 hours (depending on the job) worked by an unclassified employee (excluding hours worked to replace employees on authorized leaves) will be identified as a vacant position and will be filled by the most senior unclassified employee at that site.

III. New COR Article to provide:

Wage Grid Movement - Unclassified Employees will progress through their salary range on the basis of total number of straight time hours worked. The number of hours needed to generate movement from one salary level to the next will be the same as for classified employees at that site.

Compressed Work Week

New article COR 2.7 - Amend the CWW model agreement Article 9 to provide that termination of the agreement will be by mutual agreement.

Overtime

New Article COR 8.8 to provide: Where an employee is ordered to work overtime he/she shall be paid at the rate of two times their basic hourly rate.

Probation Officers Allowance

Appendix COR 3 - Amend to increase from 5 days to 15 days.

Temporary Assignments

New COR Article which will supercede the existing Central Article 8.5.2 and provide: When an employee is temporarily assigned to a non-bargaining unit position, he or she shall continue to pay dues to OPSEU and continue to be covered by the Collective Agreements and to accrue seniority for the first 520 hours of such temporary assignment per calendar year. If an employee is temporarily assigned to a non-bargaining unit position for more than 520 hours per calendar year these rights and obligations shall cease.

The employer shall provide to the local union at the end of each quarter the names of all employees who have worked temporary assignments under this article and the total number of hours worked by each in the preceding quarter.

Pensions

Government Position
Seize control of our pension surplus. Permanently eliminate factor 80 retirements. Leave only factor 90-retirement option.

Our Position
Enhanced early retirement opportunities for corrections bargaining unit members. An information sheet and survey will be released to the membership soon. This will give the membership the opportunity to make an informed decision. Your bargaining team will be guided by the results of the survey.

What the government did for themselves
Changed their own pension plan to allow massive lump sum payments upon retirement. They accepted bad advice and to make their plan work the government took $55 million from general revenues.

“The government screwed up, and now it appears that they are going to have to soak the taxpayer for an additional minimum of $10 million,” said Jim Bothwell, Corrections Bargaining Team member. “This is nothing short of daylight robbery, and hypocrisy on behalf of the employer. Once again it is a case of do as I say, not as I do.”

London rally a success

About 60 members from Region 1 took part in an information rally at the Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre (EMDC) in London last Friday.

Members from Local 108 (EMDC) were in attendance, along with members from Local 122 (Bluewater Youth Centre), Local 135 (Windsor Jail), Local 119 (Stratford Jail), Local 247 (Hamilton-Wentworth D.C.) and Local 234 (Maplehurst Complex). OPSEU brothers and sisters from MTO were also there to show their solidarity.

Corrections Bargaining Team chair Barry Scanlon addressed members, stressing the need to be prepared to take action, if the direction of the bargaining process requires it.

“This local is important to the cause,” said Scanlon. “You were on the forefront through previous negotiations, and we know that you will be there again.”

Solidarity at the “Don”

On Jan. 25, corrections workers staged a massive rally in front of the Toronto (Don) Jail. Terry Downey, Vice President and Executive Board Member for Region 5, Steven Giles, President of OPSEU Local 551, and Dave Graves, Corrections Bargaining Team Vice Chair addressed the crowd.

Members were informed that the government is treating corrections division members with total contempt by refusing to bargain with the elected bargaining team.

“It is perfectly clear that this government seeks confrontation by its refusal to bargain,” said Dave Graves. “Our members are furious at the contempt shown to them by this government.”

Attendance at the rally was excellent, with correctional officers and probation and parole members well represented. Special thanks go to Chris Crozier, president of Local 530, (Toronto Jail), and to the office staff who came out in a show of solidarity.

Tattoo you

In a united show of solidarity, Mon., Feb. 4, has been designated as “Tattoo Day.”

The corrections bargaining team is asking members to wear the OPSEU temporary tattoo to show their support and to send the employer a message. Regional offices and member mobilizers have a supply of tattoos if local presidents have not already received their allotments.

On Feb. 4, Labour Board hearings commence regarding central issues being negotiated at the category tables. Wear the tattoo with pride as your bargaining team continues to work towards getting an “A” contract.

Local 337 to hold info picket

To support the bargaining teams, Local 337 will hold an information picket on Wed., Feb 6 at 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Brookside Youth Centre, King St., Cobourg.

Local 337 is a composite local with members from Corrections, Probation and Parole, the Solicitor General, the Attorney General and Community and Social Services.

Lunch will be available for $5.00, with all proceeds going to the Northumberland Health Care Corporation’s New Hospital Fund.

If you are in the area, come out and support this event.

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

The Correct View 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 Correct View is authorized for distribution by Barry Scanlon, chair, Corrections team, and Leah Casselman, president.