A publication of OPSEU/SEFPO’s Correctional Bargaining Unit

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During a meeting with the employer on December 15, your bargaining team was presented with the employer’s fulsome non-monetary demand package. The team was disappointed, but not surprised, with the 40-page document presented by the employer.

While specific details are not typically discussed publicly at this stage of bargaining, one thing is obvious: the employer’s demands do not reflect the sentiments expressed in their opening statements of this round of bargaining. If you recall, the employer stated that the “dedication and professionalism of our membership has not gone unnoticed.” So far, they have failed to demonstrate their appreciation, instead, putting forth a series of proposals best described as take-aways.

Your team has presented non-monetary items to the employer that reflect the priorities established during the Division’s demand set. Our goal is to secure significant gains in key areas of our Collective Agreement with a focus on improving work-life balance.

To assist the Division in achieving success, your bargaining team, with OPSEU/SEFPO’s full support, has also retained the services of Nini Jones, a well-respected arbitration lawyer.

Nini Jones was instrumental during the last round of bargaining and the Team is thrilled to make use of her wealth of experience and knowledge. On December 17, your Team met with her for several hours and discussed a wide variety of issues related to this round of bargaining.

The team would like to thank the membership for their support with the Division’s Bill 124 Exemption postcard campaign. Thousands of postcards have come flooding in and have now been sent to the Treasury Board in support of our exemption request that was submitted on December 7.

This is shaping up to be a tough round of bargaining, as our initial proposals are in sharp contrast to those made by the employer. Although the parties seem to be miles apart on several key issues, your team is confident that, with the support of the Corrections Division – one of the strongest Divisions in OPSEU/SEFPO – we can meet these challenges head on and achieve the gains we all deserve.

In Solidarity,

Your Correctional Bargaining Team

Your bargaining team

Peter Harding – Youth Service Officer Representative and Bargaining Team Chair – Cecil Facer Youth Centre

Janet Laverty – Correctional Officer Representative and Bargaining Team Vice-Chair – Elgin Middlesex Detention Centre

Michelle Canning – Multi-Category Representative – Central East Correctional Centre

Adam Cygler – Corrections Institutional Health Care Representative – Ontario Correctional Institute (OCI)

Richard Dionne – Correctional Officer Representative – Central North Correctional Centre

Sean Dunn – Member-at-Large Representative – Central East Correctional Centre

Zach Fildey – Fixed-term Members Representative – Maplehurst Correctional Complex

Carol Frost – Corrections Unified (ADM/OAD/OPM/TEC) Representative
– Kenora Jail

Scott McIntyre – Probation and Parole Officer Representative – North Bay P&P

Josh Miller – Correctional Officer Representative – Algoma Treatment and Remand Centre

Denise Sidsworth – Probation and Parole Officer or Probation Officer Representative – Brampton Probation & Parole

Johanna Sinclair – Probation Officer Representative – Newmarket Youth Justice

Todd Snider – Correctional Officer Representative – Stratford Jail

Glenna Caldwell – OPSEU/SEFPO Staff – OPS Negotiations

If you have any questions, please forward them to your Correctional Bargaining Team at CorrectionsOPSBargaining@opseu.org.

LockTalk is authorized for distribution by:

Warren (Smokey) Thomas, President, OPSEU/SEFPO
Peter Harding, Chair, Correctional Bargaining Team
Janet Laverty, Vice-Chair, Correctional Bargaining Team

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