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Important Announcement

MERC reaches agreement on job provisions

An agreement has been reached at the Corrections Ministry Employee Relations Committee (MERC). The agreement is the first step in resolving a number of union policy grievances and addressing seniority concerns at the four Appendix 18 (reasonable efforts) facilities. These facilities are the Barrie Jail, Burtch Correctional Centre, Guelph Correctional Centre and the Parry Sound Jail.

The agreement is specific to correctional officers and correctional officer positions. The Ministry Employee Relations Committee will meet for a negotiation session on May 17, 2001 with a goal of reaching an agreement on non-correctional officers and non-correctional officer positions.

The following are some of the key aspects of the agreement:

• Additional opportunities are created for senior correctional officers at the Barrie Jail, Burtch Correctional Centre, Guelph Correctional Centre and Parry Sound Jail to access Article 20 provisions of the Collective Agreement.
• Utilization of Job Trade and VEO provisions of the Collective Agreement to minimize involuntary layoffs.
• Opportunities for temporary assignments to alleviate staff shortages and enhance safety and security.
• To alleviate bumping, the same surplus date will be established for the following three facilities: Brantford Jail, Waterloo Detention Centre and the Wellington Detention Centre.
• An established process for staffing the Female Institution at Maplehurst Correctional Complex while continuing to respect the seniority provisions of the Collective Agreement.
• Most unclassified correctional officers throughout the province will have the opportunity to access converted positions at their respective facilities through the competition process.
• An established process for the transfer of the Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre Young Offender Unit to the Bluewater Youth Centre 
• Settlement reached to resolve union grievances on conversions and posting/filling of vacancies.
• Provisions for an expedited lateral transfer process.

To ensure that all members have the most up-to-date information concerning this agreement and that there is consistent application of the agreement, a joint implementation monitoring committee has been established. This committee will provide members with further information in the very near future.

For campaign information, call Don Ford (ext. 442) or Pam Doig (ext. 687) at 1-800-268-7376 or (416) 443-8888.

e-mail: dford@opseu.org or pdoig@opseu.org

Ontario Public Service Employees Union
100 Lesmill Road, Toronto, Ontario M3B 3P8
www.opseu.org  opseu@opseu.org
Original authorized for distribution by Leah Casselman, president.

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Ontario Public Service Employees Union, 100 Lesmill Rd. Toronto, ON M3B 3P8  (416) 443-8888  www.opseu.org