Soon, they may lay you off. But first, they’re going to mess with your life.

That’s the message your Ministry Employee Relations Committee got when it met with Corrections Division officials Dec. 13.

The Ministry tabled a document called "Scheduling Principles for Correctional Officers and Youth Officers." If implemented, their plan will radically change the way shift and vacation scheduling works in Ontario jails.

"This is completely draconian," says union MERC Chair Barry Scanlon. "Over the last 25 years, we’ve managed to get scheduling to the point where there is a balance between the need for staffing and the needs of staff. They’re ready to bulldoze everything."

The Ministry is not talking about negotiating these changes. They’re talking about imposing them. They want to set the stage for nine-to-nine shifts (slated for April 1) and a lot of surplus notices.

"We are asking all locals not to negotiate anything at their facility until we’ve had a chance to go back to the MERC table and put some pressure on the Ministry," said Scanlon. "Anything agreed to by one local can and will be used against every other local."

Here’s a sample of what the Ministry plans to do:

Eliminate built-in relief. In facilities that lose built-in relief, this can only mean surplus notices for classified staff. Without built-in relief, backfill for vacations, illness, special and compassionate leave, union leave, stat holidays, or any other authorized leave will have to be done by unclassified staff. This flies in the face of last year’s grievance settlement on rollovers, which has already won classified jobs for over 280 formerly unclassified Correctional Officers. The collective agreement is clear: when there is an ongoing need for the work, the workers should have classified status.

Require that vacations be spread out evenly through the year. Under the new vacation formula, "the maximum number permitted to take vacation on any given day will be determined by dividing the total available vacation credit entitlements for all Correctional Officers by 365." Say you have a small institution with 50 COs, each with an average of four weeks’ vacation. Under the formula, a maximum of three can be on vacation on a given day. That means that, for everyone to get to use their vacation, three officers will have to be on vacation every day of the year, whether it’s November or February. In the past, there’s been some recognition that, for family and other reasons, more people need to be on vacation at certain times. "Too bad," says the employer.

Cap the number of 12-hour shifts in a 24-hour period so that it does not exceed twice the number of posts during lock-up times. This can only lead to a reduction in 12-hour shifts.

Eliminate compensating time. All overtime will be paid out.

Cap breaks during a shift at 60 minutes, paid time. By paying you, they can keep you in the facility. That way, you’re available for emergencies. Are they expecting more emergencies due to reduced staffing levels?

A complete version of the government’s plan can be seen on the OPSEU web site at www.opseu.org/ops/……

"This exercise is all about changing our schedules so they can reduce the complement of classified Correctional Officers in preparation for superjail staffing levels," says Scanlon. "We believe it violates the collective agreement and shows contempt for the Grievance Settlement Board and past practice.

"This is a total withdrawal of good will by the employer," he said. "Correctional officers can help in the fightback by stepping down from acting positions and other voluntary assignments."

Members across the province are turning up the heat as the number of correctional facilities without acting managers continues to grow.

As of today, 13 institutions have had members step down from acting management positions. More institutions are promising to do the same in the next few weeks.

For details, call Don Ford at OPSEU head office, 1-800-268-7376 ext. 356, or e-mail him at dford@opseu.org.

The Ministry’s Dec. 13 scheduling plan refers to "Correctional Officers and Youth Officers."

"There’s just one small problem with that," says OPSEU MERC Vice-Chair Dave Graves. "There’s no such thing as a ‘youth officer.’ Obviously, the employer has a new classification in mind for Correctional Officers in Young Offenders units."

OPSEU will challenge any move by the Ministry to limit the rights of COs through the creation of "bogus classifications," said Graves.

Troubled by family or personal problems? The Employee Assistance Program is there for you 24 hours a day.

Working in correctional services is hard enough without the added stress caused by the employer’s plans for layoffs, privatization, and other changes. With the EAP, one phone call puts you in touch with specialists trained to help people with marital issues, substance abuse, financial difficulties, depression, legal predicaments and other personal problems.

EAP counsellors do not work for the Ministry of Correctional Services. They work for CHC-Working Well, a private company under contract the Ministry. Nothing you say to them can be released to anyone without your written, informed, and voluntary consent.

Classified and unclassified employees and their dependents are eligible. Short-term counselling to you or your dependents is free.

EAP 24-hour toll-free lines:

1-800-268-5211 (Canada-wide English)

1-800-363-3872 (Canada-wide French)

1-800-363-6270 (TDD English)

1-800-263-8035 (TDD French)

If you are an OPSEU member with questions about the program in general, contact Dave Graves at (705) 232-4543.