May 6, 2010
Greetings Division,
Your MCSCS MERC team has been busy with a full agenda, attempting to address site issues as well working to create better working conditions for our members. Here are some of the items we have worked on and continue to work on.
Institutions
Rollovers and Laterals
Your MERC team was successful in negotiating with management approximately 260 rollovers and 40 laterals across the province with all sites receiving some rollovers – 40 more than what was specified in the Collective Agreement. We continue to request more rollovers for those members that still remain in the fixed term ranks and hope that some day that all our fixed terms will be given a regular (full-time classified) job and any new hires from that point on will be hired as full-time classified Correctional Officers. In our opinion, this is a step in the right direction of legitimizing Correctional Officers in the law enforcement community. At the same time we remain cognizant of the need to allow our members to move around the province.
Regional Labour Relations Forums
We continue to have our regional forums with Brother Paul Johnstone chairing the Western and Northern Forums and Brother Dan Sidsworth taking the lead at the Central and Eastern Forums. We believe it is a good way of having dialogue amongst our union leaders and management to try and address regional issues. In the North, we have come up with some novel approaches, i.e. a subcommittee on best practices for searches. The next scheduled meeting for the Northern Forum is June 15th and 16th in Sudbury so please forward any issues to MERC lead Paul so we can add to the agenda. Western dates to follow. Same goes for the Central and Eastern Region Forums, any issues please get to Dan ASAP.
Toronto South and Southwest Detention Centres
We continue to work on being involved on these two new Jail projects, with Brother Dan chairing for the MERC at the Toronto South and Brother Paul spearheading the Southwest site. The union continues to request of management that executives of locals and union members participate in the development of these projects on an ongoing basis.
Training and Development
The committee continues to work towards having training rolled out for Correctional Staff across the province. MERC lead is Paul Johnstone and other members are Dan Marshall (TWDC); Shari Archdekin (Vanier); Jim Mitchell (North Bay Jail) and David Kerr (St. Thomas P&P). Our long range goal is to get senior members back to college for in depth training on Guns and Gangs, Stress Management, and Working with Mentally Ill Offenders.
Fixed Term (unclassified) Correctional Officer Sub-Committee
Dan Sidsworth is leading this issue. The committee continues to meet with Fixed Term members and management. The terms of reference are almost finalized. Composition on the union side is being changed now due to the last members on the committee being rolled over into classified full-time jobs.
ASMPP
The employer committed to rewrite their policies subsequent to the issuance of Vice-Chair Keller’s Award that was handed down on February 5, 2010. What we have seen is a softening of their position, however they have not gone far enough and we will be returning in front of Vice-Chair Keller in the near future for firm direction from the Board. Specifically, the employer continues to waffle on clear direction to the field to not include absences that stem from a bona fide disability under the Ontario Human Rights Code. That would also include WSIB absences. We have already moved the employer back a fair distance and we remain confident that at the end of the day, our position will prevail.
Absenteeism Target Incentives
The calculation under Absenteeism Target Incentives will be based on two per cent of the employee’s straight-time hourly rate as of December 2009, for the period from March 12, 2009 through to December 31, 2009. Overtime hours worked between March 12 and December 31, 2009 will be included in the incentive payment calculation as straight time.
Just a reminder that the ASMPP target incentives are scheduled for payout on May 13, 2010.
JASIC (Joint Attendance Strategy and Implementation Committee)
The list below is the number of members who are at the various attendance levels as reported recently to the JASIC Committee. Many of the members who are included in these figures have NOT been reviewed by the Attendance Support Management Office (ASMO). In many instances, once ASMO reviews a case that member is moved down one or two levels.
Institutions
Level 1 1,286
Level 2 214
Level 3 30
Level 4 11
Community
Level 1 110
Level 2 6
Level 3 0
Level 4 0
The committee continues to press that management and union look at positive ways to address issues that create high sick time in our division. These issues include violence against staff, overcrowding and understaffing, drugs, weapons and security threat groups.
Committee on Health and Productivity (sub-committee of JASIC)
Dan Sidsworth for MERC and Emidio Casullo for the Provincial OHSC have been working on this issue. The committee is a sub-committee of the JASIC and was formed to assist in reduction of sick credits, assisting members through sick time process, to reduce grievances relating to sick time as well as review accommodations as required.
The Terms of Reference for this pilot have just recently been signed and the pilot site of Maplehurst has been chosen by the sub-committee.
Policy Grievances
Some of the outstanding policy grievances are:
» CTO – unilateral removal of compensating time off across the province
» Police Escorts – outstanding issues of police doing correctional officers’ work.
» Inmate Court Transfers – Ministry pays municipalities to transfer inmates to court, work should be with our members
» Use of Force Instructors – managers being used to do bargaining unit work
» Fixed Term Employees – Not being compensated for hiring errors
Security and Inmate Management Initiatives
Many of the recommendations of this committee to management are being rolled out. Items include canine units and standardized security equipment
We are encouraged by management’s move to address the issue of drugs, weapons and gangs in our work sites by piloting institutional security teams. This initiative is currently in MWDC and CNCC, and will soon be at the Toronto Jail. If it continues to be a success we are hoping that the ministry will be given resources for future teams for other sites.
Pride and Profession
Dress uniforms should be available in near future. Management is in the process of finalizing the procurement of a uniform.
Enhancing our public profile is an important piece of building community support for our struggles. Public presentations to the community from our members continue to be something we are looking forward to have in place.
We continue to encourage our locals to participate in their community and forward your stories to MERC so we can place your community work on our web site.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Paul Johnstone with members Tom O’Neill, Quinte Detention Centre, and Sarah Harries-Jones, Toronto Jail, are working on a process to begin doing a study on PTSD in corrections. Thus far there has only been one study regarding corrections done in Canada by a student in Saskatchewan. We are looking forward to the results of the study which should assist our understanding of what is affecting our members in the field. This in turn will inform our discussions on recommendations to mitigate these factors. We are currently drafting Terms of Reference for this Committee
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Staff Safety
This morning one of our Officers was followed home by someone well known to us. As a result of his awareness, this individual was immediately apprehended and charged.
Staff are reminded to exercise extreme vigilance coming and going to work. It is of utmost importance, that should you be followed to NOT go home and to call 911. Identify yourself and follow Police direction. Contact Union and Management ASAP.
Your safety, and that of your family is of utmost importance. Please check your home email for further information.
An emergency membership meeting will soon be called to address some ongoing safety issues.
Staff are reminded to exercise extreme vigilance coming and going to work. It is of utmost importance, that should you be followed to NOT go home and to call 911. Identify yourself and follow Police direction. Contact Union and Management ASAP.
Your safety, and that of your family is of utmost importance. Please check your home email for further information.
An emergency membership meeting will soon be called to address some ongoing safety issues.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
GSB Decision
GSB Decision ASMPP
DECISION
[1] The Union filed a number of grievances, on behalf of its members, dealing with the Attendance Support and Management Pilot Program. Given the number of grievances, and the importance of resolving this matter as expeditiously as possible, the parties agreed on an expedited process to deal with the grievances. Essentially, it was agreed that the parties would provide me with whatever materials they considered relevant, and would then make submissions on the matter. I was asked to, after considering the materials, as well as the submissions. issue a bottom line decision, without reasons. I was requested, as well, to issue the decision in point form, for ease of understanding based on the parties submissions. After considering the submissions of the parties, as well as the documents submitted, I hereby make the following Orders:
1. The Attendance and Support Management Office of the Ministry of Government Services shall exercise reasonable discretion to deal with nonculpable absenteeism on a case-by-case basis at progression through levels of the program.
2. The Employer shall give proper consideration of implications arising under the Ontario Human Rights Code and preclude the consideration of absences that flow from a Disability as defined by the Code.
3. The Employer shall preclude the consideration of WSIB absences in making any determination at Level 4 of the ASMPP.
4. In the event of a declared pandemic by the World Health Organization or the Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health, the Employer will consider whether to suspend the ASMPP, and notify OPSEU of their decision.
5. The Parties shall meet to negotiate a dispute resolution process to deal with
grievances arising out of the ASMPP.
6. All of the grievances identified in Appendix A are hereby dismissed.
Dated at Toronto this 5th day of February 2010.
Brian M. Keller, Vice-Chair
DECISION
[1] The Union filed a number of grievances, on behalf of its members, dealing with the Attendance Support and Management Pilot Program. Given the number of grievances, and the importance of resolving this matter as expeditiously as possible, the parties agreed on an expedited process to deal with the grievances. Essentially, it was agreed that the parties would provide me with whatever materials they considered relevant, and would then make submissions on the matter. I was asked to, after considering the materials, as well as the submissions. issue a bottom line decision, without reasons. I was requested, as well, to issue the decision in point form, for ease of understanding based on the parties submissions. After considering the submissions of the parties, as well as the documents submitted, I hereby make the following Orders:
1. The Attendance and Support Management Office of the Ministry of Government Services shall exercise reasonable discretion to deal with nonculpable absenteeism on a case-by-case basis at progression through levels of the program.
2. The Employer shall give proper consideration of implications arising under the Ontario Human Rights Code and preclude the consideration of absences that flow from a Disability as defined by the Code.
3. The Employer shall preclude the consideration of WSIB absences in making any determination at Level 4 of the ASMPP.
4. In the event of a declared pandemic by the World Health Organization or the Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health, the Employer will consider whether to suspend the ASMPP, and notify OPSEU of their decision.
5. The Parties shall meet to negotiate a dispute resolution process to deal with
grievances arising out of the ASMPP.
6. All of the grievances identified in Appendix A are hereby dismissed.
Dated at Toronto this 5th day of February 2010.
Brian M. Keller, Vice-Chair
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
2% Bonus.
As you are aware, the 2009 absenteeism target has been achieved.
As a result, lump sum incentive payments will be issued in accordance with the language set out in Appendix COR7, paragraph 5a(i) of the Correctional Bargaining Unit Collective Agreement.
The target incentive payments will be calculated at two (2) per cent of an employee's straight time salary for hours worked from March 12, 2009 (ratification date of OPSEU Correctional Bargaining Unit Collective Agreement) to December 31, 2009. As the incentive payment calculation is based on hours worked during this time period, it does not include paid or unpaid leaves (including sick leave). However, overtime hours worked during this period will be included the incentive payment calculation. For example, one hour of overtime worked will represent one hour worked for the purposes of calculating the target incentive payment. Should you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact your manager. Congratulations on the achievement of the 2009 absenteeism target.
Regards,
David Logan
Assistant Deputy Minister,
Employee Relations Division, HROntario
Ministry of Government Services
As a result, lump sum incentive payments will be issued in accordance with the language set out in Appendix COR7, paragraph 5a(i) of the Correctional Bargaining Unit Collective Agreement.
The target incentive payments will be calculated at two (2) per cent of an employee's straight time salary for hours worked from March 12, 2009 (ratification date of OPSEU Correctional Bargaining Unit Collective Agreement) to December 31, 2009. As the incentive payment calculation is based on hours worked during this time period, it does not include paid or unpaid leaves (including sick leave). However, overtime hours worked during this period will be included the incentive payment calculation. For example, one hour of overtime worked will represent one hour worked for the purposes of calculating the target incentive payment. Should you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact your manager. Congratulations on the achievement of the 2009 absenteeism target.
Regards,
David Logan
Assistant Deputy Minister,
Employee Relations Division, HROntario
Ministry of Government Services
Friday, January 29, 2010
JASIC targets met!
Your MERC Teams have learned that the attendance targets set out under the Joint Attendance Strategy and Implementation Committee (JASIC) have been met. Our congratulations to all Youth Services Officers and Correctional Officers in the Corrections Division.
As a result, outstanding overtime payments for all members should be processed imminently. As well, the employer will shortly provide the agreed additional lump sum payment of 2 per cent of your straight-time hourly rate as of December 31, 2009 for all hours worked in the period from the date of ratification to December 31, 2009.
To achieve the 2010 absenteeism target incentives, the attendance average for Youth Services Officers and Correctional Officers must be 176 hours or less as indicated in Article COR15.1 and COR 18.1.
Your MERC Teams thanks you for your continued support.
As a result, outstanding overtime payments for all members should be processed imminently. As well, the employer will shortly provide the agreed additional lump sum payment of 2 per cent of your straight-time hourly rate as of December 31, 2009 for all hours worked in the period from the date of ratification to December 31, 2009.
To achieve the 2010 absenteeism target incentives, the attendance average for Youth Services Officers and Correctional Officers must be 176 hours or less as indicated in Article COR15.1 and COR 18.1.
Your MERC Teams thanks you for your continued support.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
OPSEU Help for Haiti
Dear 135 Members...below you will find the most recent post from the MERC site. As you will read some OPSEU members are in need of assistance as they have travelled to Haiti to help. We will be discussing our options as far as what we can do to help our brothers and sisters out, who in turn are doing what they can in Haiti. We anticipate some 50/50 and perhaps a BBQ in an effort to assist. Updates to be posted soon. Thank you. 135 LEC
Dear OPSEU Members,
Ten (10) OPSEU members who are Medics have headed to Haiti to give a helping hand, doing not only Canadians proud, but our proud union of OPSEU.
Brother Seamus O’Connor and president of one of our OPSEU locals has stated that he would be keeping us informed of what was going on in Haiti with our members and we look forward to regular updates from him we hope to have it posted on our region #2 web site www.opseuregion2.com and maybe even the main OPSEU web site.
Here is Brother Seamus’ request;
I am Seamus O’Connor President Local 207 Halton Paramedic. I am e-mailing asking if OPSEU and/or OPSEU Locals can donate to assist some of our members who have left for Haiti.
OPSEU in the past has donated $5000 dollars to help ship an Ambulance to Haiti were one of our Medics, with his family have gone to live and help for the next year, prior to the devastation. As many of you are aware the area has just been devastated by an earthquake. Brother Grant (the brother who went with the ambulance) and his family are fine but the clinic they are staying at is being overwhelmed by the sick and injured.
We are hoping that through OPSEU, the Regions, the Locals and our own Local 207, to organize some financial assistance for a number of our medics that have left to go to the clinic in Haiti to help. There has been a personal cost in airfare and the use of their own time. If there is a way that OPSEU members can assist to help offset some of the costs to the Medics it would be greatly appreciated. Any funds that are donated will go towards these requirements, if there is anything left over, and the local will donate to a relief fund to assist the people of Haiti in the name of OPSEU.
Thank you and In Solidarity, Seamus
Please make cheques payable to;
Local 207
C/O OPSEU
55 Frid St.
Suite #1
Hamilton, ON
L8P 4M3
Dear OPSEU Members,
Ten (10) OPSEU members who are Medics have headed to Haiti to give a helping hand, doing not only Canadians proud, but our proud union of OPSEU.
Brother Seamus O’Connor and president of one of our OPSEU locals has stated that he would be keeping us informed of what was going on in Haiti with our members and we look forward to regular updates from him we hope to have it posted on our region #2 web site www.opseuregion2.com and maybe even the main OPSEU web site.
Here is Brother Seamus’ request;
I am Seamus O’Connor President Local 207 Halton Paramedic. I am e-mailing asking if OPSEU and/or OPSEU Locals can donate to assist some of our members who have left for Haiti.
OPSEU in the past has donated $5000 dollars to help ship an Ambulance to Haiti were one of our Medics, with his family have gone to live and help for the next year, prior to the devastation. As many of you are aware the area has just been devastated by an earthquake. Brother Grant (the brother who went with the ambulance) and his family are fine but the clinic they are staying at is being overwhelmed by the sick and injured.
We are hoping that through OPSEU, the Regions, the Locals and our own Local 207, to organize some financial assistance for a number of our medics that have left to go to the clinic in Haiti to help. There has been a personal cost in airfare and the use of their own time. If there is a way that OPSEU members can assist to help offset some of the costs to the Medics it would be greatly appreciated. Any funds that are donated will go towards these requirements, if there is anything left over, and the local will donate to a relief fund to assist the people of Haiti in the name of OPSEU.
Thank you and In Solidarity, Seamus
Please make cheques payable to;
Local 207
C/O OPSEU
55 Frid St.
Suite #1
Hamilton, ON
L8P 4M3
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
General Membership Meeting
Monday, February 8th. 1930hrs, Union Hall. Presentation of budget and new By-Laws. Pizza and refreshmments provided.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Collective Agreement
Hard Copies of the new Collective Agreement has arrived and will be distributed in the next few days.
Local 135 would like to encourage your participation in a fundraiser for the people of Haiti. See Angelo or Rob for info. Thanks.
Local 135 would like to encourage your participation in a fundraiser for the people of Haiti. See Angelo or Rob for info. Thanks.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
MERC Update
Update…
January 6th, 2010
Greetings Division,
We hope you all had a good holiday season, as we all recognize that 2009 was a challenging year.
We want to provide a few updates:
As we have discussed at our 2009 all-president’s meetings, we are striving to enhance the professional image of our Correctional Services members with the public. These efforts are important in raising our profile as peace officers and correctional workers at large in this province. It will lead to better public support when we face everyday challenges and when we negotiate our contract.
We hope that the locals will look within their communities for programs and/or individuals that need our help. Some locals already donate time and money to charities and sporting organizations.
ASMPP
Although we have stated this clearly in previous communications, it is important to reiterate that OPSEU never agreed to the Attendance Support and Management Pilot Program. It was fully imposed by the employer. The Union has filed a policy grievance about ASMPP and that complaint is following typical processes.
There appears to be some confusion between ASMPP and The Joint Attendance Strategy and Implementation Committee (JASIC). JASIC is the committee that monitors the sick time numbers as indicated in the C.A. . See the December 23, 2009, Lock Talk for the JASIC Terms of Reference.
The union has already brought concerns forward regarding some of the numbers and the sites that are attached to them, as we do not see all things being equal when it comes to absenteeism. Some of our concern revolves around the H1N1 issue/period and how that would have affected our numbers in some cases.
Through this committee we are also looking for resources from management to assist our members in getting better, not penalize them for being ill, many times through no fault of their own but merely because of the working conditions they are subjected to.
CTO
The removal of CTO was a unilateral decision made by the employer and we are still actively pursuing a policy grievance on this matter as well.
SOME POSITIVE NEWS:
Our Regional ERCs are meeting in all four regions and we hope to see continued success at resolving issues with those forums.
We are working to have stage two hearings held every month at the local sites and have more grievances resolved there…rather than going to full arbitrations.
Management has agreed to waive the probationary period for all Fixed Term Employees who were recently classified under the Appendix COR9 – Letter of Understanding.
We will continue to pressure management to see that many of the recommendations that came out of the Security and Inmate Management Committee be moved on this year, such as the search dogs.
We have been making slow but steady progress with improving the labour relations at MERC and corporately. We will continue to do our best to improve the working conditions and safety for all our membership.
In Solidarity, Corrections Division
January 6th, 2010
Greetings Division,
We hope you all had a good holiday season, as we all recognize that 2009 was a challenging year.
We want to provide a few updates:
As we have discussed at our 2009 all-president’s meetings, we are striving to enhance the professional image of our Correctional Services members with the public. These efforts are important in raising our profile as peace officers and correctional workers at large in this province. It will lead to better public support when we face everyday challenges and when we negotiate our contract.
We hope that the locals will look within their communities for programs and/or individuals that need our help. Some locals already donate time and money to charities and sporting organizations.
ASMPP
Although we have stated this clearly in previous communications, it is important to reiterate that OPSEU never agreed to the Attendance Support and Management Pilot Program. It was fully imposed by the employer. The Union has filed a policy grievance about ASMPP and that complaint is following typical processes.
There appears to be some confusion between ASMPP and The Joint Attendance Strategy and Implementation Committee (JASIC). JASIC is the committee that monitors the sick time numbers as indicated in the C.A. . See the December 23, 2009, Lock Talk for the JASIC Terms of Reference.
The union has already brought concerns forward regarding some of the numbers and the sites that are attached to them, as we do not see all things being equal when it comes to absenteeism. Some of our concern revolves around the H1N1 issue/period and how that would have affected our numbers in some cases.
Through this committee we are also looking for resources from management to assist our members in getting better, not penalize them for being ill, many times through no fault of their own but merely because of the working conditions they are subjected to.
CTO
The removal of CTO was a unilateral decision made by the employer and we are still actively pursuing a policy grievance on this matter as well.
SOME POSITIVE NEWS:
Our Regional ERCs are meeting in all four regions and we hope to see continued success at resolving issues with those forums.
We are working to have stage two hearings held every month at the local sites and have more grievances resolved there…rather than going to full arbitrations.
Management has agreed to waive the probationary period for all Fixed Term Employees who were recently classified under the Appendix COR9 – Letter of Understanding.
We will continue to pressure management to see that many of the recommendations that came out of the Security and Inmate Management Committee be moved on this year, such as the search dogs.
We have been making slow but steady progress with improving the labour relations at MERC and corporately. We will continue to do our best to improve the working conditions and safety for all our membership.
In Solidarity, Corrections Division
Friday, December 11, 2009
Contact Info Please
All members are encouraged to send their updated contact info to the new LEC. Please send contact number and home email to the follow address:
windsor135@yahoo.ca
All information will be secure and only be used for union business should we need to contact you.
Thank you.
Randy
windsor135@yahoo.ca
All information will be secure and only be used for union business should we need to contact you.
Thank you.
Randy
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
ATTENDANCE SUPPORT AND MANAGEMENT PILOT PROGRAM
There has been some confusion regarding the new sick policy regarding its anniversary date. To clear up all confusion we have posted links to the actual policy. Have a read for yourself and feel free to direct any questions or comments to Rob, Randy or any other LEC member.
Click me for an introduction to the policy
Click me for the policy
click me for common questions and answers
Rob Schussler
Click me for an introduction to the policy
Click me for the policy
click me for common questions and answers
Rob Schussler
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
From MERC re: Arming Officers.
Dear Corrections Division,
We are asking the Corrections division to write the Minister either by snail mail or personal email (not work email) on your thoughts on inmate escorts, CCing Smokey, Brian Chauvin or Eddy Almeida, as well as your local MPP.
Ask Mr. Bartolucci to give the workers proper protection and training, not only for the workers themselves, but also to ensure that public safety is preserved.
In sol., Corrections
Premier Dalton McGuinty,
I am writing you this letter due to the situation that occurred on November 24, 2009 at Hamilton General Hospital. I will also be sending this to Mr. Bartolucci. As you may be aware two Correctional Officer’s that work for Hamilton Wentworth Detention Centre were held at gunpoint and assaulted while escorting an inmate to the hospital. This inmate had previous escape attempts and was in custody for pointing a loaded shotgun at a Toronto Police Officer. This resulted in a very dangerous inmate escaping custody and the general public being put in danger. The inmate still remains at large as I write this letter. Also the two Correctional Officer’s involved were not able to protect them self and are lucky to be alive.
I was looking online today at www.cp24.com and noticed Mr. Rick Bartolucci made the following comment to the media regarding the escape:
Province not ready to arm jail guards who escort inmates
“Community Safety Minister Rick Bartolucci says he doesn’t want more guns in situations like that. He says that could create other problems.”
“At this point in time, I would not be in favour of having jail guards carry guns,” Community Safety Minister Rick Bartolucci said outside the legislature Wednesday.
“They are in very, very close proximity to prisoners (and) carrying a gun brings about a whole other set of circumstances that may have to be dealt with.”
I have serious concerns and am very insulted in the Province of Ontario especially Mr. Bartolucci for not taking the lives of Correctional Officer’s serious. Also I would like to inform our Minister that we are Correctional Officers, NOT jail guards! Goes to show the amount of respect he has for us. I would also like to ask what experience does Mr. Bartolucci have in a jail? None that I know of, so how would he know about the dynamics when escorting an inmate? The Province has an obligation to protect its employees and the community. Correctional Officer’s are put in danger everyday and not given the proper equipment to do our jobs. Officers to this date are still not even issued handcuffs as part of the uniform equipment. One question I would like to ask is, why are armoured car drivers armed, yet us as Peace Officers in Ontario transporting dangerous offenders are not? We escort inmates who are murders, terrorists, gang members and escape risks everyday. Recently Border Guards were armed for their protection, yet we remain unarmed. Correctional Service Canada’s Officer’s are armed, but the Province of Ontario does not arm its Correctional Officer’s for community escorts such as hospital visits. Every inmate that is in a Federal Penitentiary came from a Provincial Institution, we have the exact same inmates as they house, yet we are left to stand alone when it comes to our safety. We also hold Federal inmates who are sent to our custody for court purposes. I know at the Toronto West Detention Centre, we have had escapes that could have been prevented and also have had Officer’s held at gunpoint. I am asking you to please consider this request to arm Correctional Officer’s in the Province of Ontario for the purpose of out of the institution escorts. It is for the safety of the Officer and the community. How can the Ministry be called “Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services” when they are obviously not concerned with safety at all? I hope to hear back from you in the near future.
Kyle Davis
Correctional Officer
Toronto West Detention Centre
Link to Ministers comments and story. CLICK HERE
We are asking the Corrections division to write the Minister either by snail mail or personal email (not work email) on your thoughts on inmate escorts, CCing Smokey, Brian Chauvin or Eddy Almeida, as well as your local MPP.
Ask Mr. Bartolucci to give the workers proper protection and training, not only for the workers themselves, but also to ensure that public safety is preserved.
In sol., Corrections
Premier Dalton McGuinty,
I am writing you this letter due to the situation that occurred on November 24, 2009 at Hamilton General Hospital. I will also be sending this to Mr. Bartolucci. As you may be aware two Correctional Officer’s that work for Hamilton Wentworth Detention Centre were held at gunpoint and assaulted while escorting an inmate to the hospital. This inmate had previous escape attempts and was in custody for pointing a loaded shotgun at a Toronto Police Officer. This resulted in a very dangerous inmate escaping custody and the general public being put in danger. The inmate still remains at large as I write this letter. Also the two Correctional Officer’s involved were not able to protect them self and are lucky to be alive.
I was looking online today at www.cp24.com and noticed Mr. Rick Bartolucci made the following comment to the media regarding the escape:
Province not ready to arm jail guards who escort inmates
“Community Safety Minister Rick Bartolucci says he doesn’t want more guns in situations like that. He says that could create other problems.”
“At this point in time, I would not be in favour of having jail guards carry guns,” Community Safety Minister Rick Bartolucci said outside the legislature Wednesday.
“They are in very, very close proximity to prisoners (and) carrying a gun brings about a whole other set of circumstances that may have to be dealt with.”
I have serious concerns and am very insulted in the Province of Ontario especially Mr. Bartolucci for not taking the lives of Correctional Officer’s serious. Also I would like to inform our Minister that we are Correctional Officers, NOT jail guards! Goes to show the amount of respect he has for us. I would also like to ask what experience does Mr. Bartolucci have in a jail? None that I know of, so how would he know about the dynamics when escorting an inmate? The Province has an obligation to protect its employees and the community. Correctional Officer’s are put in danger everyday and not given the proper equipment to do our jobs. Officers to this date are still not even issued handcuffs as part of the uniform equipment. One question I would like to ask is, why are armoured car drivers armed, yet us as Peace Officers in Ontario transporting dangerous offenders are not? We escort inmates who are murders, terrorists, gang members and escape risks everyday. Recently Border Guards were armed for their protection, yet we remain unarmed. Correctional Service Canada’s Officer’s are armed, but the Province of Ontario does not arm its Correctional Officer’s for community escorts such as hospital visits. Every inmate that is in a Federal Penitentiary came from a Provincial Institution, we have the exact same inmates as they house, yet we are left to stand alone when it comes to our safety. We also hold Federal inmates who are sent to our custody for court purposes. I know at the Toronto West Detention Centre, we have had escapes that could have been prevented and also have had Officer’s held at gunpoint. I am asking you to please consider this request to arm Correctional Officer’s in the Province of Ontario for the purpose of out of the institution escorts. It is for the safety of the Officer and the community. How can the Ministry be called “Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services” when they are obviously not concerned with safety at all? I hope to hear back from you in the near future.
Kyle Davis
Correctional Officer
Toronto West Detention Centre
Link to Ministers comments and story. CLICK HERE
From MERC
As many of you may or may not know, there continues to be numerous investigations occurring in the field around allegations of IT/internet abuse, resulting in workplace discrimination and harassment complaints, human rights violations, suspensions, criminal charges, resulting in grievances, mediation and other strains on labour relations, this continues to this day to be an issue.
The parties are working to mitigate the outstanding issues around alleged abuse and hope to have an agreement/process to allow all to move forward in a positive manner.
Thank you.
In Sol., eddy
Memo regarding internet usage: CLICK HERE
The parties are working to mitigate the outstanding issues around alleged abuse and hope to have an agreement/process to allow all to move forward in a positive manner.
Thank you.
In Sol., eddy
Memo regarding internet usage: CLICK HERE
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
From MERC Team
ROLLOVER UPDATE…
November 23rd, 2009
update-icon
Greetings Presidents and Division,
We are happy to announce that we have come to an agreement regarding rollovers/COR 9 in the MCSCS Division.
We understand that there is much anticipation over this agreement, please be patient and details will follow soon.
In Sol., MCSCS MERC
November 23rd, 2009
update-icon
Greetings Presidents and Division,
We are happy to announce that we have come to an agreement regarding rollovers/COR 9 in the MCSCS Division.
We understand that there is much anticipation over this agreement, please be patient and details will follow soon.
In Sol., MCSCS MERC
Man escapes custody at Hamilton hospital
Two armed men wearing hospital masks overpowered two prison guards and helped a third man escape custody from Hamilton General Hospital today.
Police alerts were issued throughout the GTA following the morning escape from the hospital at Victoria Ave. and Barton St. at around 11:30 a.m.
Police identified the escaped prisoner as Fawad Nouri, 24, a man who was shot by Hamilton Police in January following an armed robbery of a Tim Hortons on Stone Church Rd. and Upper James St.
Six years ago, Nouri was accused of pointing a sawed-off shotgun at a Toronto Police officer and reaching for her gun following an armed robbery at a flea market.
The prisoner was taken to the hospital for undisclosed care by two guards who were overpowered by two men armed with handguns. Police said the suspects wore green surgical masks during the break-out.
The three men were seen leaving the hospital in a silver-coloured Hyundai Tiburon.
Police also said they may also have a scanner capable of monitoring police calls.
Police alerts were issued throughout the GTA following the morning escape from the hospital at Victoria Ave. and Barton St. at around 11:30 a.m.
Police identified the escaped prisoner as Fawad Nouri, 24, a man who was shot by Hamilton Police in January following an armed robbery of a Tim Hortons on Stone Church Rd. and Upper James St.
Six years ago, Nouri was accused of pointing a sawed-off shotgun at a Toronto Police officer and reaching for her gun following an armed robbery at a flea market.
The prisoner was taken to the hospital for undisclosed care by two guards who were overpowered by two men armed with handguns. Police said the suspects wore green surgical masks during the break-out.
The three men were seen leaving the hospital in a silver-coloured Hyundai Tiburon.
Police also said they may also have a scanner capable of monitoring police calls.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
From MERC Team
UPDATE…
November 16th, 2009
Greetings Presidents and Division,
Rollovers For MCSCS unclassified (Fixed Term)
The MCSCS MERC met with management on November 12th to further discuss potential numbers and rational on Rollovers. We were unable to come to an agreement as of yet but have scheduled another meeting for the 23rd of November and we remain optimistic.
***IMPORTANT***: We are asking all locals/presidents to confirm with the MERC that all local hour disputes have been resolved around hours regarding appendix 24. Please confirm before 1000 hours on Monday, November 23rd, 2009. If they have not, please provide details as to numbers of outstanding disputes and forward said disputes to us.
ASMPP
We have retained counsel for this policy grievance and the union is providing a team of two, one whom we have relied on many times in the past with great success as well as the other being the lawyer who represented the London city workers against their employers punitive sick program. First date is February 22nd, 2010.
H1N1
Even though Correctional workers are now part of the group who should be given the vaccine, the employer still has not moved to having on site clinics, except for CNCC where public health declared an outbreak of this flu. We are filing a H&S Policy Grievance on this issue as well the fact that the employer failed to provide employees with protection may be another argument in regards to lack of resources provided to our members.
Court Transfers
Policy grievance has being initiated regarding the court transportation of inmates, as we believe this to be an inclusion issue.
MOL
It has come to the unions attention that inspections of our correctional facilities and potentially other inspections are being done by managers out of the Ministry of Labour. The union is moving on a policy grievance on this issue.
In Sol., Corrections Executives
November 16th, 2009
Greetings Presidents and Division,
Rollovers For MCSCS unclassified (Fixed Term)
The MCSCS MERC met with management on November 12th to further discuss potential numbers and rational on Rollovers. We were unable to come to an agreement as of yet but have scheduled another meeting for the 23rd of November and we remain optimistic.
***IMPORTANT***: We are asking all locals/presidents to confirm with the MERC that all local hour disputes have been resolved around hours regarding appendix 24. Please confirm before 1000 hours on Monday, November 23rd, 2009. If they have not, please provide details as to numbers of outstanding disputes and forward said disputes to us.
ASMPP
We have retained counsel for this policy grievance and the union is providing a team of two, one whom we have relied on many times in the past with great success as well as the other being the lawyer who represented the London city workers against their employers punitive sick program. First date is February 22nd, 2010.
H1N1
Even though Correctional workers are now part of the group who should be given the vaccine, the employer still has not moved to having on site clinics, except for CNCC where public health declared an outbreak of this flu. We are filing a H&S Policy Grievance on this issue as well the fact that the employer failed to provide employees with protection may be another argument in regards to lack of resources provided to our members.
Court Transfers
Policy grievance has being initiated regarding the court transportation of inmates, as we believe this to be an inclusion issue.
MOL
It has come to the unions attention that inspections of our correctional facilities and potentially other inspections are being done by managers out of the Ministry of Labour. The union is moving on a policy grievance on this issue.
In Sol., Corrections Executives
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
H1N1 flu shot
The Ontario government is expanding the list of people who can get the H1N1 flu shot. The province's Chief Medical Officer of Health, Arlene King, said Tuesday that first responders — firefighters and police officers — can now get inoculated. Correctional workers and senior citizens living in nursing homes are also eligible to receive the vaccine.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Radios
The Local Executive would like to thank management for fixing all the radio issues. Having requested reports from its members in order to deal with the problems appropriately, no such reports have been submitted...therefore the radios and all their issues must have been resolved by management.
Friday, October 23, 2009
President's Message
Fighting the coming attack
October 23, 2009
Dear sisters and brothers:
The wounded global economy came home to roost at Queen’s Park yesterday.
Finance Minister Dwight Duncan announced that Ontario’s budget deficit this year will hit $24.7 billion. The news, while not surprising, was shocking just the same. It’s a big number. It has big consequences for every OPSEU member.
The Minister promised a “sweeping review” of government spending. Premier Dalton McGuinty would not rule out unpaid days off for the million Ontarians who earn their bread in the provincial public sector. And the spectre of privatization now looms over every public service worker.
The Liberals’ plan is to make us pay.
There is no question that the deficit is real, and it’s big. It’s about $1,900 for every living person in Ontario. Put another way, it’s equal to all the money the province collected from Personal Income Tax last year.
As a province, we will have to address this deficit. The question is, who will pay?
Dwight Duncan won’t have much luck looking for waste in public services (except, of course, for the hundreds of millions he’s throwing away on private consultants). We already had a “sweeping review” from 1995 to 2003. It was called the Common Sense Revolution, and public services still haven’t recovered from the brutal trauma of those years.
As far as unpaid days off, a lot of us remember Bob Rae’s “Social Contract” all too well. But much has changed since the Rae days.
For one thing, the Social Contract would be struck down by the courts today. In 2007, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell was wrong to tear up the collective agreements of health workers in that province. Since then, collective bargaining has been recognized as a protected right under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
McGuinty can’t legislate his way out of this. If he wants to use public employees to buy Ontario out of the recession, his two main options are a) privatization; and b) mass layoffs.
Privatization is a stupid idea. It cuts services, it destroys jobs, and it usually comes with major cost overruns. And from a budget standpoint, selling off assets like the LCBO – which right-wingers are already barking for – would kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.
As for more layoffs, they can only weaken local economies, destroy the services people need, and generate headlines the Liberals really don’t want to see.
So what’s their plan? My guess is, they think that just the threat of layoffs and privatization will force public employees to agree to the wage cuts or “Dalton Days” he wants.
In other words, it’s a New Social Contract.
The problem with the 1993 version of the Social Contract was not that it tried to pay off the deficit that all Ontarians owed. The problem was that it put the responsibility for doing so on one group only: public sector workers.
How is it fair that a part-time secretary at a community college, who makes maybe $27,000 a year, should be the one paying off the deficit when the Bay Street banker is not?
Which is more important, providing professional help to a child with a mental illness, or giving income tax breaks to profitable corporations and obscene bonuses to their CEOS?
Public services aren’t just for public employees. They exist because we all need them. And that’s why saving them is not the responsibility of public employees alone.
We chose careers in public service not to get rich, but because we care – for people, for families, for communities. It’s time our commitment got the respect it deserves.
We are already planning a bold strategy to fight the coming attack. It will take courage, commitment, brains, resources, and leadership. The good news is, there is no organization in Canada that is better equipped to lead this fight than our union, OPSEU.
Working together as we have done so many times before, I know we will do whatever it takes.
In solidarity,
Warren (Smokey) Thomas
President
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