Court Reporters Campaign ramping up
 

 

May 26, 2009

It’s about the integrity of the record. OPSEU is fighting to maintain the function of transcript production for court reporters.

We know that the Ministry of the Attorney General wants to hand over transcript production to regional typing pools.

Vice-Chair Randi Abramsky determined, in July 2006, that “the preparation and certification of the transcripts is the bargaining unit work of the court reporters.” However, as remedy, she left it to the parties to implement that decision.

In October 2008 when the Ministry of the Attorney General finally disclosed it’s new “business model” we knew it was not acceptable to our members. We spent several days in November trying to negotiate a reasonable agreement for transcript production, but the ministry would not budge. Our only alternative was to request that the parties reconvene before Vice-Chair Abramsky. June 1st has been set for the hearing.

During the Ontario Public Service bargaining, further attempts were made to reach an agreement on remedy but the ministry wasn’t interested.

The union’s position is very clear. The Grievance Settlement Board determined that the transcript production is the bargaining unit work of court reporters and monitors, and it is now time to discuss fair compensation for that work.

The union has retained counsel for the June 1 hearing. The MERC has selected three advisors to attend the hearing – Julie Weber, MERC co-chair, Linda Fudge and Helen Haggith.

In the months prior and subsequent to bargaining, members have been actively involved in the court reporters campaign, faxing hundreds of letters to the Attorney General, discussing their concerns regarding the integrity of the record with lawyers and judges, wearing ribbons and sporting stickers in support. We know of at least two lawyers associations, the Criminal Lawyer’s Association, and the Ontario Crown Attorney’s Association, have expressed their concern that the ministry’s plan will threaten the integrity of the record.

Now, more than ever, we need YOU the members to keep the pressure up on the ministry, leading up to our June 1st date with Vice Chair Abramsky!