The Factual Report on Corrections Negotiations

Issue 7 - October 29, 2001

“Black Tuesday” campaign picks up steam

A campaign initiated by a few Probation and Parole offices has spread province-wide, and has the support of the Corrections Bargaining Team.

Every Tuesday, probation and parole staff are wearing black to protest the deteriorating conditions in which they’re forced to work.

Staff are protesting the serious public safety crisis that has eroded the community side of corrections over the past decade. Critical staff shortages, crushing workloads, rapid technology and policy change as well as insufficient support and funding of corrections have led to a lack of effective offender supervision and rehabilitation. These circumstances are jeopardizing the personal safety of probation staff and the public at large.

David Kerr, probation and parole representative of the OPSEU Corrections Ministry Employee Relations Committee, said that “Black Tuesday” is a safe and proper way to get the message to the employer.

“The employer can tell us to take things down off of our walls and our doors but they can’t tell us what to wear, as long as it’s appropriate,” said Kerr. “There are no regulations about clothing colour.”

Barry Scanlon, chair of the OPSEU Corrections Ministry Employee Relations Committee and chair of the Corrections Bargaining Team, said that the team fully supports the members in probation and parole.

“The bargaining team will also participate in ‘Black Tuesday’ to ensure that the employer knows we support community corrections,” Scanlon said. “These types of actions are exactly what members should be participating in as we get closer to our contract deadline. Bargaining is easier when the employer knows we have members willing to take action.”

Nearly 80 demonstrators descended on Corrections Minister Rob Sampson’s constituency office on October 1 to tell the Minister enough was enough. Justice Critics Peter Kormos (NDP) and David Levac (Liberal) were also there to show their support.

Probation and parole members have an excellent website with a message board to post comments. The address is: http://www.geocities.com/gordlonghi/ENOUGH.html.

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.