The Factual Report on Corrections Negotiations

Issue 8 - November 1, 2001

Security is the top priority, says Harris

In a Toronto Star story on October 30, 2001, Premier Mike Harris is quoted as saying, “What is it that everybody agrees 100 per cent that government should do? Policing, safety, security - that is the top priority area. Always has been for our province.” Harris has promised to budget more funds to improve security in Ontario. He also announced that his government would provide additional funding for beefing up security programs, which is expected to include more money for policing.

Federal Solicitor-General Lawrence MacAuley also spoke recently about security. Referring to Ottawa’s controversial anti-terrorism plan, MacAuley stated, “It is designed to give authorities the tools to identify, prosecute, convict and punish terrorists.”

Your Corrections Bargaining Team believes that increased security includes a just wage for all provincial security providers. The team hopes that these ministers will give the field of corrections the respect it deserves. After all, where do they think these terrorists will be kept if they are arrested?

MPPs recently awarded themselves a 32.6 per cent wage increase over the next three years. The Tories have stuck their porcine-like snouts deep into the trough of taxpayer dollars, yet they are hinting that there is no money to give to the public service. This “do as I say, not do as I do” attitude may work with small children. It won’t work with us.

Waste Watchers

“Order a full uniform to get a pair of gloves”, youth centre workers told.

Correctional officers at one youth facility are being told they must order a full uniform in order to get individual items such as gloves or equipment belts.

Due to Ministry regulations on the supervision of young offenders, these correctional officers are expressly forbidden from wearing a uniform in the workplace. The only officers who can wear a uniform are those who are trained to escort young offenders into the community.

The gloves and equipment belt from the uniform can, however, be worn by all staff. Officers who aren’t designated and trained as community escort officers must therefore order and receive the entire uniform in order to get one or two items.

“Thousands and thousands of taxpayers dollars are being wasted by this bizarre practice,” said Dave Graves, Corrections Bargaining Team Vice-Chair. “Despite public statements by the Ministry, nothing was ever done to the manager at Maplehurst who ordered the barbecues, bedcovers and $500.00 Bunn coffeemakers for female unit inmates. We don’t expect any action here, either.”

An OPSEU T-shirt goes to the person who provided this information.

Update those lists!

Locals are reminded to update your membership lists.

The importance of having updated lists cannot be stressed enough. Updated lists are essential for developing or updating local phone trees. Accurate lists are also required in order for members to receive bargaining news mailings and, if necessary, strike pay.

Please forward updated membership lists to your OPSEU Regional Office ASAP.

Quote of the week:

“Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.” - John F. Kennedy

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 Correct View is your only accurate source of Corrections Team information during this round of bargaining. If you don’t read it here, you can't be sure it's true. Don’t rely on gossip and rumours. We will provide the facts.

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.