The Factual Report on Corrections Negotiations

Issue 6 - October 25, 2001

Arbitrator rules on P&P essential services

Rulings by arbitrator Janice Johnson on October 23 and 24 have established the rules for probation and parole essential service staffing in the event of a strike of lockout. The ruling applies to probation and parole officers in the Ministry of Correctional Services and probation officers in the Ministry of Community and Social Services.

Arbitrator Johnson ruled that, with a few minor exceptions, there would be no changes to the 1999 Essential Service Agreement for probation and parole.

Here are Johnson’s two rulings:

ISSUE IN DISPUTE: Changes to the 1999 Level of Service Agreement

RESOLUTION: There shall be no changes to the 1999 Level of Service Agreement for probation and parole except that in the left column on page 1 the reference to “level 1 (category offences)” shall be changed to “intensive supervision offenders”.

ISSUE IN DISPUTE: Changes to the 1999 Probation and Probation and Parole Site Agreement

RESOLUTION: There will be no changes to the 1999 Probation and Probation and Parole Site Agreement save and except the following:

1. Paragraphs 4, 5 and 6 in the 1999 agreement are deleted.

2. New paragraphs 4, 5, 6 and 7 shall be inserted as follows:

Paragraph 4 - The parties agree that to deliver essential probation and parole services, each parole officer shall work 8.09 hours (8 hours and six minutes) on one day per week.

Paragraph 5 - The parties agree that to deliver essential probation services, each probation officer shall work 12.71 hours (12 hours and 42 minutes) over two days per week.

Paragraph 6 - The parties agree that the numbers set out in paragraphs 4 and 5 above reflect that in MCS 22.3 per cent of a probation officer’s work is essential and that in MCSS 35 per cent of a probation officer’s work is essential.

Paragraph 7 - The total probation officer complement in MCS and MCSS shall be determined in accordance with the conditions document.

3. Paragraph 7 in the 1999 agreement now becomes paragraph 8, paragraph 8 becomes paragraph 9 and paragraph 9 becomes paragraphs 10

Both of these rulings along with the 1999 agreement will be available on the OPSEU website shortly.

Board gives full support to bargaining

The OPS contract mobilization campaign has received 100 per cent unanimous endorsement by the OPSEU Executive Board.

This endorsement ensures that members of the OPS will have full resources to get the best possible contract in this round of bargaining.

“We are very pleased with the genuine support we received from the members of the Executive Board,” said Barry Scanlon, chair of the OPSEU Corrections Bargaining Team.

Correct View a hit at Queen’s Park

It appears that the Correct View is already making an impact on the Tories down at the Legislature.

On October 18, Scarborough Centre Tory MPP Marilyn Mushinski raised an issue during question period to Corrections Minister Rob Sampson regarding an item she read in the bargaining newsletter. Mushinski took an interest in the fact that the union was calling on members to submit information for a future column called “Waste Watchers.”

Although Mushinski’s question was just a lame setup for the Minister to expound on how he is making corrections more efficient, the fact that the issue was raised shows a couple of things. First, the bosses are reading every word we print. Second, the idea that OPSEU members will be looking over their shoulders must have them a little worried.

Let’s try not to disappoint them.

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.