Perhaps someone down at Rob Sampson’s office should lock away his pencils.

Neither rain, snow nor the label of "dictator" can keep the Corrections Minister from his appointed task of infuriating municipal councils across the province.

The city of Sarnia is the latest to express their outrage at the now famous threat letter from the Minister’s office for daring to disagree with privatization. A Sarnia newspaper editorial questions Sampson’s tactics, and wonders whether we are living in a democratic society or under a dictatorship. The paper says that the Minister’s vindictive stand is intolerable, and strikes at the heart of democracy.

It isn’t hard to see that we are a long way from an election. However, some of these municipal councils may have longer memories than Sampson would like.

Hey Rob, we have the list of municipalities that have opposed privatized corrections in Ontario. Let us know if you need it. We wouldn't want you to miss anybody.

On April 10, 2000, Rob Sampson wrote a letter to Barry Scanlon, Chair of the Ministry Employee Relations Committee (MERC). In the letter, Sampson expressed concern about the upcoming public meeting in Penetanguishene, especially around union plans to hold a demonstration and disrupt the event. The Minister wanted to meet and set up a "protest protocol" with the union out of his concern for the "safety, security and comfort of those attending the meeting."

Sounds lovely, except for one thing: the union is not and has never planned on holding any protest at the meeting. For the Minister to suggest that the union would in any way jeopardize the meeting is the purest hogwash. Not after waiting four long months for Sampson to finally buy a road map and come to Penetang.

Barry Scanlon has responded to the Minister, expressing his disappointment over the content of the letter, and especially over the fact that Ministry representatives hand-delivered a copy to the Penetang/Midland newspapers the same day the letter was written, before Barry ever saw it (very slick, Rob.)

All we can say to Sampson is…nice try.

It is expected that the public meeting on April 18, 2000 in Penetanguishene will be packed to the rafters as citizens finally hear Rob Sampson’s version of the privatization story, a story that has been five months in the making.

OPSEU members who attend from outside the community are reminded that this is a meeting for the citizens and their concerns and questions are the priority for the meeting. Also, despite the Minister’s erroneous "sources," there will be no demonstrations by OPSEU at the meeting.

Seating at the meeting will be limited. OPSEU members there to observe may be asked to voluntarily give up their chairs for citizens of the community.

The Corrections Division was kept hopping at this year’s convention as events affecting the division unfolded over the three days.

One issue was legal costs incurred by members who are facing criminal charges in relation to their employment. Barry Scanlon, Chair of the Corrections MERC team moved a motion to amend the budget, with $150,000 of the legal budget being directed to assist members’ legal costs. The motion passed.

Individual members will have access to a maximum of $5,000 for their legal defence, provided it is pre-authorized by OPSEU and verified on a regular basis. The resolution also directs OPSEU to seek reimbursement from the employer for legal costs.

The Corrections Caucus was held on Friday, April 7, 2000, at the noon break. The highlight of the meeting was an address by Peter Kormos, MPP and NDP corrections critic. Peter congratulated members of the Division for their continued hard work and professionalism while performing such a demanding job. He also urged members to keep up fighting for publicly run corrections. "It is never wrong," he said, "for skilled, motivated, professional, responsible people to fight to keep their jobs."

The caucus also dealt with many motions put forward by the MERC Team and the delegates. Motions passed were: a mandate to implement benefits for unclassified members; to explore the possibility of divisional councils; to continue the withdrawal of any good will towards the employer; and a direction for the MERC Team to continue to oppose privatization plans and represent the members’ interests at the table. The caucus also passed a motion in support of Brother Doug Pickett, who was terminated at Toronto East D.C.

Less successful on the convention floor were attempts to implement a dues increase for members who voluntarily take acting management positions. After being defeated on the convention floor, the caucus directed Barry Scanlon to re-word the resolution and attempt to re-introduce it. The newly worded dues resolution, as well as the resolution supporting Brother Pickett, did not make it to the delegates after the Constitutional Committee ruled that it did not meet the criteria for an emergency resolution.

For campaign information, call Don Ford (ext. 716) or Carol Whitehead (ext. 356) at