Letter from Smokey Thomas

Dear sisters and brothers,

As you know, our 6,200 members of the Corrections bargaining unit are without a collective agreement.The Ontario government is trying to push through a sick time plan that would penalize two classifications in the bargaining unit, correctional officers and youth workers, for taking more than five sick days a year.

If the employer is successful with its punitive sick plan, all OPSEU members in the Corrections bargaining unit and the entire OPSEU membership in the Ontario Public Service (OPS) are next.The Corrections Bargaining Team has been clear that its goal is to come to a negotiated settlement. However, the employer’s position at the bargaining table fails to address long-standing and systemic problems with working conditions in corrections facilities and community offices.

The Corrections Team has the full backing of the union as they pursue a fair settlement for their members.The Ministry of Government Services is in the midst of conducting the 2009 Ontario Public Service Employment Survey.We ask all OPSEU members in the OPS to not participate in any or all voluntary activities of the employer’s, including the completion of the OPS Employment Survey, until such time as Corrections has a negotiated settlement.

Please pass this guidance along to your members in OPS worksites.

Thank you in advance for your solidarity and support of our Corrections sisters and brothers so they can reach a fair and reasonable settlement.

In solidarity,
Warren (Smokey) Thomas
President, OPSEU.