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.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Local news
Good day, brothers and sisters.
News from our meeting last night is that the three motions passed and we have a new chief steward, Laura Josephson.
Congratulations to Laura from the local executive and keep up the great work you have been doing.
Also, a GSB decision by Felicity Briggs from last week regarding overtime remedy is being distributed, and supports our position of financial remedy as per the Lee decision, not a shift at another time. When it is online, I will post a link.
Mobilizing
There are a few spots left for this Friday's rally trips and we hope you attend one at some point. Get a hold of me or Jim Richards to confirm a spot for one of the following:
News from our meeting last night is that the three motions passed and we have a new chief steward, Laura Josephson.
Congratulations to Laura from the local executive and keep up the great work you have been doing.
Also, a GSB decision by Felicity Briggs from last week regarding overtime remedy is being distributed, and supports our position of financial remedy as per the Lee decision, not a shift at another time. When it is online, I will post a link.
Mobilizing
There are a few spots left for this Friday's rally trips and we hope you attend one at some point. Get a hold of me or Jim Richards to confirm a spot for one of the following:
- One trip is for the morning and will leave Milton around 0730 and return by 1030.
- The second trip is leaving at 1030 from Milton and returning later in the evening, much later.
The transport and food will be taken care of and all we ask is that you dress warm.
Please make sure your local contact information is up to date and let everyone know the site is up as things seem to happen quickly and I will try to keep it up to speed.
In solidarity, Emidio.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
February 20th rally
Good day everyone.The sign says it all.
Thanks to Local 517 and Local 530 and to the members from Local 234 who took the day to protest the unfair treatment this employer is trying to call bargaining.
Thanks also to the board members and Dan Sidsworth from our MERC for their support on a cold and windy day.
Please check out the Local 530 site for a cool little video...
In solidarity, Emidio.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Indoor Air Quality Reports
Good day brothers and sisters.
In an effort to file proper reports for health and safety, we ask you to submit any issues with air quality in your area to the committee with the following information included:
Initial Data
Name-
Position-
Location of concern-
Shift worked in the area-
Number of people in the area-
Nature of complaint-
Details-circle any of the following
cough, sneezing, shortness of breath, asthma, bronchitis,
sore throat, watery eyes, nausea, rash, hives,
dizziness, headaches, other_____
Please explain any items circled:
When did the symptoms start?
How often do they occur?
What time of the day do they usually start?
What time of the day are they the worst?
Is there any time you are symptom-free?
What details, if any, can aggravate the symptoms?
When the symptoms first started, had anything changed in the building (construction, renovation, new carpet, new furniture, etc...)?
Are there any other details that you feel may help in resolving air quality issues?
Please forward these as soon as possible if there is an issue and ask about WSIB exposure forms as well.
In an effort to file proper reports for health and safety, we ask you to submit any issues with air quality in your area to the committee with the following information included:
Initial Data
Name-
Position-
Location of concern-
Shift worked in the area-
Number of people in the area-
Nature of complaint-
Details-circle any of the following
cough, sneezing, shortness of breath, asthma, bronchitis,
sore throat, watery eyes, nausea, rash, hives,
dizziness, headaches, other_____
Please explain any items circled:
When did the symptoms start?
How often do they occur?
What time of the day do they usually start?
What time of the day are they the worst?
Is there any time you are symptom-free?
What details, if any, can aggravate the symptoms?
When the symptoms first started, had anything changed in the building (construction, renovation, new carpet, new furniture, etc...)?
Are there any other details that you feel may help in resolving air quality issues?
Please forward these as soon as possible if there is an issue and ask about WSIB exposure forms as well.
In solidarity, Emidio.
Improved conditions will reduce sick time!!
Letter to the editor, Simcoe Reformer.
I am not a hero and you won't hear about me in the paper.
I am trained in first aid, but I am not a paramedic.
I am trained in fighting fires, but I am not a firefighter.
I deal daily with stress, but I am not a soldier.
I keep the community safe, but I am not a police officer.
I have stopped suicides, broke up fights, and been assaulted.
My family has been threatened, and I have helped stop a riot.
Judges call some of my workplaces twice as bad as others.
Amnesty International calls for improved conditions.
I work in the provincial correctional system.
I help to rehabilitate those in my correctional facility.
Former clients have gone on to train professional athletes, become city councillors, and lead productive lives. Many other clients have anger, addiction and mental health issues.
During my working day I can be exposed to volatile and dangerous situations.
The Ontario government presently is in contract talks with my union, OPSEU.
They want sick time reduced, and so do I.
I think improving conditions that cause sick time will reduce it.
The government just wants to reduce our coverage.
Sick time in a normal workplace shouldn't be abused.
Elevated sick time in an abnormal workplace shouldn't be seen as abuse.
If you were assaulted at work or put under the stress of death threats to you and your family would you want to be put under the additional stress of having no sick time?
This is a letter to the editor from a Sprucedale employee local 220 from Feb. 19\09
I urge you all to get political and get the word out there.
Liberal MPP's need to hear from their constituency and their opposition party on the issue.
I am not a hero and you won't hear about me in the paper.
I am trained in first aid, but I am not a paramedic.
I am trained in fighting fires, but I am not a firefighter.
I deal daily with stress, but I am not a soldier.
I keep the community safe, but I am not a police officer.
I have stopped suicides, broke up fights, and been assaulted.
My family has been threatened, and I have helped stop a riot.
Judges call some of my workplaces twice as bad as others.
Amnesty International calls for improved conditions.
I work in the provincial correctional system.
I help to rehabilitate those in my correctional facility.
Former clients have gone on to train professional athletes, become city councillors, and lead productive lives. Many other clients have anger, addiction and mental health issues.
During my working day I can be exposed to volatile and dangerous situations.
The Ontario government presently is in contract talks with my union, OPSEU.
They want sick time reduced, and so do I.
I think improving conditions that cause sick time will reduce it.
The government just wants to reduce our coverage.
Sick time in a normal workplace shouldn't be abused.
Elevated sick time in an abnormal workplace shouldn't be seen as abuse.
If you were assaulted at work or put under the stress of death threats to you and your family would you want to be put under the additional stress of having no sick time?
This is a letter to the editor from a Sprucedale employee local 220 from Feb. 19\09
I urge you all to get political and get the word out there.
Liberal MPP's need to hear from their constituency and their opposition party on the issue.
In solidarity, Emidio.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Videos
Good day everyone.
Still no update from the table but two videos every administrator and politician who hasn't walked the line should see...and understand!
and this great ad
A CO's experience isn't different from day to day with violence, death and the aftermath of blood and other body fluids being left behind to remind us of the day?
Still no update from the table but two videos every administrator and politician who hasn't walked the line should see...and understand!
and this great ad
A CO's experience isn't different from day to day with violence, death and the aftermath of blood and other body fluids being left behind to remind us of the day?
Harsh, I know, but let's be real here...
In solidarity, Emidio.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
New Week
Good day brothers and sisters.
A new week in the bargaining process is underway and the team has stated they are returning to the table. Meanwhile, the employer has issued a notice to negotiate essential services agreements as a matter of process.
I would suggest it is a tactic to intimidate us into accepting an offer to avoid a strike and I hope you will see through that manoeuvre.
If a strike is unavoidable you will know it.
In the meantime keep working to health and safety to show the employer what is essential to do our jobs.
This week I ask you to contact the Liberal Party of Ontario in your riding and express that you as a union member will no longer support their candidates. Get involved in the riding and make your presence felt.
After all, there is a point when you can't laugh it off anymore...
A new week in the bargaining process is underway and the team has stated they are returning to the table. Meanwhile, the employer has issued a notice to negotiate essential services agreements as a matter of process.
I would suggest it is a tactic to intimidate us into accepting an offer to avoid a strike and I hope you will see through that manoeuvre.
If a strike is unavoidable you will know it.
In the meantime keep working to health and safety to show the employer what is essential to do our jobs.
This week I ask you to contact the Liberal Party of Ontario in your riding and express that you as a union member will no longer support their candidates. Get involved in the riding and make your presence felt.
After all, there is a point when you can't laugh it off anymore...
In solidarity, Emidio.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Youtube videos
Good day brothers and sisters.
As we are in a work to safety I thought I could pass along some interesting video about why we need to respond to patronizing comments from people who think our job is easy.
The next time someone tells you we don't need a security mentality to do this job, think again.
The next time someone who doesn't deal with the inmate's face to face hostility says we are overly security-minded, think again.
Why do they want you to drop your guard?
Have they ever fought for their life?
The next time managers try to sell you a line about why it can't happen here, think again.
When you entrust the wrong inmates with access to unit cleaning status, deny maximum security settings or can't understand why doors should be closed, think again.
When you bitch at an officer for keeping the flow safe, think again.
When you don't see the danger and risk, what next?
Don't think this can only happen in American jails, after all, the gang-banger wannabes are going to be, as our trainers are saying.
Ask staff from CNCC, Guelph, Niagara, Hamilton or Maplehurst to name a few.
RIOTS ARE REAL!
Anywhere there are inmates en mass, there is a chance for all hell to break loose.
We happen to be the gatekeepers so keep the gates strong and secure.
As we are in a work to safety I thought I could pass along some interesting video about why we need to respond to patronizing comments from people who think our job is easy.
The next time someone tells you we don't need a security mentality to do this job, think again.
The next time someone who doesn't deal with the inmate's face to face hostility says we are overly security-minded, think again.
Why do they want you to drop your guard?
Have they ever fought for their life?
The next time managers try to sell you a line about why it can't happen here, think again.
When you entrust the wrong inmates with access to unit cleaning status, deny maximum security settings or can't understand why doors should be closed, think again.
When you bitch at an officer for keeping the flow safe, think again.
When you don't see the danger and risk, what next?
Don't think this can only happen in American jails, after all, the gang-banger wannabes are going to be, as our trainers are saying.
Ask staff from CNCC, Guelph, Niagara, Hamilton or Maplehurst to name a few.
RIOTS ARE REAL!
Anywhere there are inmates en mass, there is a chance for all hell to break loose.
We happen to be the gatekeepers so keep the gates strong and secure.
In solidarity, Emidio.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Contract talks
Good day brothers and sisters.
The week begins with information from the bargaining team that they have been at the table last week and that they plan to keep negotiating this week. We hope that there is progress being made and hope that an update will be shared as soon as possible.
I am asking all members of the Local to follow these guidelines:
The week begins with information from the bargaining team that they have been at the table last week and that they plan to keep negotiating this week. We hope that there is progress being made and hope that an update will be shared as soon as possible.
I am asking all members of the Local to follow these guidelines:
- be careful of spreading rumours that have no merit,
- demand your rights under the collective agreement,
- document your health and safety concerns,
- and work to the safest way under the standing orders.
The next week should be interesting, so please keep checking the OPSEU website and sites from the various locals.
In solidarity, Emidio.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Passings
It is with a heavy heart that our local is fighting through the day.
With the everyday stress of our job and the contract negotiations we also add the loss of a fellow CO from Maplehurst.
Steve Dickson will be missed by all those who knew him.
Please take the time to reflect on what is important in life and those we have our special bonds with. Support each other.
Time for a CO is counted on a shorter scale as we cram more into our lives knowing what we can lose just by showing up to work.
It is our way.
It is what makes us run to assist each other and stand together in bad times.
It is what solidarity is about.
We need it now, more than ever.
With the everyday stress of our job and the contract negotiations we also add the loss of a fellow CO from Maplehurst.
Steve Dickson will be missed by all those who knew him.
Please take the time to reflect on what is important in life and those we have our special bonds with. Support each other.
Time for a CO is counted on a shorter scale as we cram more into our lives knowing what we can lose just by showing up to work.
It is our way.
It is what makes us run to assist each other and stand together in bad times.
It is what solidarity is about.
We need it now, more than ever.
Sincerely, in solidarity, Emidio.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Voting results are in!
Good day, brothers and sisters.
We have had a vote and the results are in.
It is time to get ready for the next phase.
I thank the members who helped mobilize the local and I extend to the bargaining team a good luck wish to get us a good contract.
As more info becomes available it will be posted.
Take care.
We have had a vote and the results are in.
It is time to get ready for the next phase.
I thank the members who helped mobilize the local and I extend to the bargaining team a good luck wish to get us a good contract.
As more info becomes available it will be posted.
Take care.
In solidarity, Emidio.
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