September 13, 2004
Better jobs for court part-timers if pilot project flies
Over 2,100 part-time unclassified court workers across Ontario could achieve classified status soon if a new pilot project works out as planned.
In negotiations with OPSEU that wrapped up last week, the Ministry of the Attorney General (MAG) and Management Board Secretariat (MBS) have agreed to run the pilot project at two courthouses. The project starts Sept. 20 at the College Park Courthouse in Toronto and Oct. 4 at the Newmarket
Courthouse. Both projects will run for at least three months.
Ontario court workers have some of the most irregular work schedules in the public service. When courts adjourn, even for a few hours, part-time unclassifieds stop work - and stop getting paid. Weekly paycheques vary widely, and it's hard to look for other work when the next shift at the courthouse
could come any time.
The project will use "flexible part-time averaging" and new software to stabilize work schedules and weekly paycheques for court part-timers. OPSEU will meet with MAG and MBS throughout the fall to monitor the progress of the project. If the pilot succeeds, it will be rolled out across all Ontario
courthouses, possibly as early as January 2005.
As classified employees, court workers would be able to access more entitlements under the collective agreement, for example, pro-rated benefits.
The pilot was negotiated under Appendix 25 of the OPS collective agreement. Carved into the contract by the 2002 strike, Appendix 25 commits the employer to look for ways to convert more part-time unclassifieds to classified status.
"This pilot project follows at least five years of activism by OPSEU members who have filed grievances, protested, and walked the picket line for the rights of part-time unclassifieds," says OPSEU OPS negotiator Terry Baxter. "We will do everything in our power to make this pilot project work for
part-timers right across the OPS."
A joint employer/union memo and a question-and-answer document on the pilot project are being sent to all courtroom staff. OPSEU members can also direct questions to OPSEU Job Security Officer Allison Kabayama or Elaine Young, OPSEU chair of the MAG Ministry Enforcement and Renewal Committee.
Allison is at (416) 443-8888 ext. 682 OR 1-800-268-7376 ext. 682 OR akabayama@opseu.org; Elaine is at (905) 645-5252 ext. 3769 OR emyoung@sprint.ca.
Local demand-setting starts Sept. 7
Team elections go Sept. 18, Oct. 2
OPSEU locals across the OPS will hold local demand-setting meetings from Sept. 7 to Sept. 17. The meetings, which follow a June member survey, will decide the union's bargaining agenda heading into contract talks this November.
All members are urged to attend. For details, check your local bulletin board or contact your steward or local president.
Soon after the local meetings, local delegates to Regional Bargaining Conferences on Sept. 18 will begin electing the union's bargaining teams for the upcoming round. Elections will wrap up on Oct. 2 at the Central Bargaining Conference in Toronto.
Original authorized for distribution by Leah Casselman, president.
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