Message From MERC Member Dan Sidswoth

I have not written anything for fourteen days, that being on April 04, 2009. In that entry I gave my opinion of what I saw developing and where I thought we should be going. I wrote:
“From the information I have, each local is setting up General Membership meetings. I believe these meetings can be used to empower all of us as a united group to discussed strategies for change. I prefer to see us move forward united and with strength. We should turn this situation into a positive one. You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing that we call 'failure' is not the falling down, but the staying down. ~ Mary Pickford
“If we choose to rescind our notification of withdrawing from the CWW agreement at this time we should all do it as one collective. We have shown our resolve. We have forced the employer back to the table to negotiate. We have shown we will fight hard for our CWW agreement. We wanted an action for CTO and are still on high alert. We have a lot more fight left in us.We can use this as an opportunity to move forward. We can all hold our heads up knowing how difficult this is and that we need to remain united”
Since that time the employer has met with OPSEU and after what sounds like posturing on both sides, the employer decided to walk away from the meeting with no desire to discuss and resolve the CTO issue. CTO is a negotiated benefit and this dispute will need a negotiated settlement.We have not achieved our gaol of impacting the employer on how important this issue is to us collectively. Waiting for something to happen at the GSB will take too long. We must show the employer that we continue to have the resolve to influence a positive outcome for both sides.I do understand the employer’s need to save money during this economic time. The various layers of bureaucracy have all been given their mandate to cut costs. We understand.The number of Correctional Officers has remained stagnate for decades, with our workplaces falling into disrepair. When the too few facilities were built by the Ministry they cut corners to save costs on design, security and the number of Correctional Officers. (Maybe that’s why the pods are not square?) During this same time the numbers of police officers, judges, and crown attorneys have all increased, which resulted in an increased number of remanded inmates in the system. The irony being additional beds were never added to the system despite the new buildings.The added workload has never been addressed with additional resources or modified procedures, so that we may continue work in healthy and safe workplaces. As we know there are many problems within Corrections. As Smokey has stated:“We remain willing and ready to work with the employer to solve these problems. In the meantime, our members are refusing to take any more chances with their jobs…and their lives. I will always support my members who are following the rules – even if the system breaks down because of it." There is a reason Corrections in Ontario is one of the few provinces that hasn’t had a major disturbance in the last five years. The members have gone above and beyond the call of duty on a daily basis. In the past we have taken the short cuts, strived to make things work when we know if we did things by the book, the resulting impact would have negative outcomes. Whether that be getting inmates out to court on time, working in over crowded ranges without proper staffing levels, or getting the bare essential duties completed just to be able to placate the inmate population.This coming week OPSEU will be having its annual convention. This opportunity for the Corrections Division to Caucus together again is very timely and does not happen very often. The employer knows we will be taking full advantage of this. We will be organized, we will move forward together, and we will remain determined to resolve this issue.Like the trains that run past the windows at my post like clock work, the time now has come that we can no longer ensure that the “trains run on time” in Corrections. Knowing that the sacrifices we make are at our expense. The time has past where we can turn a blind eye to all the short cuts we take on a daily basis. Our job is to make sure that we all get home to our families safely. It is the employer’s job to make sure all the resources are available for the system to operate and run on time.Smokey hit the nail right on the head…without the memberships buy-in, the system will break down.Stay safe,
In Solidarity, Dan Sidsworth