Welcome to 2021, time to focus on building on our successes and bargaining

Happy New Year!

The open period has come and gone, and you’ve made your choice very clear – OPSEU/SEFPO!  The attempted raid has been a distraction from the issues that really matter, and we’re glad we can head into 2021 with a clear focus on what’s important: getting the best wage increases and working conditions.

Contract talks are coming up fast and we want to get you the raises you deserve now, not 10 years from now.

We want to thank the members of the MERCS and Provincial Health and Safety Committees; Chad Oldfield, Scott McIntyre, Janet Laverty, Adam Cygler, Peter Harding, Johanna Sinclair, Mike Fallon, Ryan Graham, Michelle Mclean, Joely Price, Denise Sidsworth, Tom Gibson, Paula Van Dusen, Brian Shewfelt and all the Local Presidents, and those unsung heroes in the field for stepping up. The commitment and leadership you’ve demonstrated in 2020 has not gone unnoticed. OPSEU/SEFPO is a family – big, strong and united. You’ve made that clear to all those who’d try to separate us with a divide and conquer agenda. Forget that! We are in this together. We have each other’s back. And when you mess with our future be prepared for solidarity in the ranks. Rock solid.

If anything, the recent raid attempt has generated lots of discussion. Now let’s build off that and get back to business. If we all work together, and become part of the solution, we can make the Correctional Bargaining Unit even stronger.

Here’s what we’ve done together: We pushed the government to hire 500 new Corrections staff. We mobilized and in response we saw the government’s commitment to building new Corrections infrastructure throughout Ontario and paying new recruits for the time they spend in training. We facilitated quick action to ensure you have the PPE you need to do your jobs safely during the pandemic. And in the final days of 2020, we got a commitment in writing that you won’t lose out if you test positive for COVID-19 and must quarantine.

2021 is a bargaining year, and bargaining is never easy, and we can’t take anything for granted, but to be successful it’s important to keep our eye on the ball and not be distracted.

We are hopeful that in this upcoming round of bargaining that we can build on the many successes that we laid the foundation for in our first CORR only collective agreement.

We are always inspired by the courage and dedication you show in some of the most challenging jobs in Ontario. It motivates us to keep working hard every day of the week.

Together we are stronger. Together we are OPSEU/SEFPO. Together we are the Correctional Bargaining Unit. Then. Now. Always.

Warren (Smokey) Thomas, President OPSEU/SEFPO

Chris Jackel, Chair Bi-Ministry Employee Relations Committee