January 13, 2006
Thank you, Barry
It is with deep regret we
announce that Barry Scanlon, Corrections MERC Chair,
has taken a management position with the Ontario
government. Barry leaves behind a legacy in OPSEU
generally and Corrections in particular that is
unlikely to be rivaled. As a member of the Corrections
MERC team since 1992 (and chair of that team since
1994), he led the team that negotiated scores of
agreements protecting members’ job security, negotiated
lateral transfers and job trades for those displaced by
jail closures and helped create hundreds of full-time
jobs for unclassified members. He was one of the
driving forces behind the Corrections
anti-privatization campaign.
Barry’s most recent
accomplishments came as a result of chairing the last
two OPS Corrections bargaining teams.
Those who worked with Barry
will certainly miss his friendly, engaging and
empathetic manner. We won’t forget the countless hours
he spent on the road, driving to hearings, meetings,
demonstrations and rallies, often with his kids in tow.
We also won’t forget his overflowing OPSEU bags and
infamous “backseat of the car” filing system (experts
predicted that if the car ever caught fire, it would
have burned for four days). Yet Barry not only could
find that eight-year-old memo at a moment’s notice, he
could tell you who was at the meeting and likely what
each of those people are doing today. He never forgot a
name or a face.
Corrections is a better
place thanks to Barry Scanlon. On behalf of the
Corrections Division, we wish Barry the best in his
future endeavours.
Changes to the MERC
As a result of Barry’s
departure, there are changes to the Corrections MERC
team.
Vice Chair Dave Graves
moves to the position of Chair. “With Barry’s
departure, we have lost a valuable resource, and the
team will miss him,” Graves said. “His calm, rational
approach to problem solving is something the team will
definitely continue.”
Dave brings a wealth of
experience to the role of Chair. With nearly ten years’
experience as MERC Vice Chair, and 28 years experience
as a correctional officer, he knows his way around.
Dave has also sat on three separate Corrections
bargaining teams.
“We have many challenges
ahead,” Graves said. “One of our priority issues is
implementation of the Resources Position Management
(RPM) agreements that were signed last May. If the
employer doesn’t fully implement the agreements we will
take it back to the Board to get an order. We are also
concentrating on the workload and rollover issues in
Probation and Parole.
“I have received countless
phone calls and e-mails from local presidents and
activists,” Graves said. “I can’t thank everyone
enough, and we appreciate your continued support.”
Neil Fraser of Local 248,
first alternate to the team, will now move up as a
member. The team will designate their new Vice Chair at
a later date. The members of the team are:
Dave Graves - Chair
Len Mason - Member
Neil Fraser - Member
Gord Longhi - Probation
and Parole Member
A big date is looming
For those who didn’t mark
it on your calendars, 2006 is the year the contract
expires for the private jail in Penetanguishene. Let’s
all remember the heart-warming words of then Leader of
the Official Opposition, Dalton McGuinty, in 2003:
“Ontario police services
have been opposed to private jails, host communities
have been opposed to private jails, and we have heard
similar concerns from both our corrections officers and
the inmates of these facilities. We would not breach
contracts with private companies operating jails but we
would not renew the contracts and no new private jails
would be opened. Private jails are a failed experiment
and have no place in Ontario.”
In the days and weeks
ahead, the Corrections Division will mobilize to ensure
that Dalton remembers what he said. Stay tuned for
details.
For more information,
call Don Ford (ext. 7442) at 1-800-268-7376 or
(416) 443-8888. e-mail:
dford@opseu.org
Original authorized for distribution by Leah Casselman,
president.
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