We Stand United

Today I made a post that may have come off wrong. I speak my mind and I write my feelings. However I think I didn't properly express them today and for that I apologize. It was never my intention to make it seem like our Local leaders across the Province were not sharing information or doing a poor job. Anyone who knows me well and has read anything I have written in the past knows that I love my Sisters and Brothers who have given up so much of their lives for the membership.

I honestly have never seen a more tireless and dedicated group of people anywhere. For the past 5 years I have fought at the sides of these local presidents and local executives and activists. Giving up our personal lives for the betterment of this division. All of whom want the same thing, our division to be recognized as essential and for our own Collective Agreement without the right to strike. We have fought arm in arm for these goals.

So my point in my deleted post was that we need to continue the pressure on the employer to ensure the changes are made. We need to work towards an arbitration system that will not tie us to the Unified division. We need to receive better communication from our MERC team and OPSEU on what direction and actions we should be taking.

My whole goal with throwing my name in the hat for MERC this year was to increase the communication between our Locals and MERC. To utilize the strong opinions and voices of our Local leaders. These Local leaders led us all into the fight this past round and never bent. We stood strong backing each other up all the way. Without Local leaders who took it upon themselves to plan rallies, lobby days and media events the discussion on changing CECBA would never have happened.

I know without the backing of these local leaders a MERC team is useless. I want all members and leaders through out this division to unite like we have in the past and put pressure on both OPSEU and the Liberals to move the changes forward. 2017 is just around the corner and we will be starting a whole new round soon. So we need to remember we are stronger as one.

Once again I want to apologize to anyone my last post offended it was not my intention and thank you to those who communicated their feelings to me, Without that communication I would not have realized how others took the post. This is the communication and dedication I want to bring to this Division. To lead by example when you make a mistake and to utilize our Local leaders and activists across the province.

We are Essential and We Deserve Better!!! United We Stand!!

Ready to Lead

It's been a long time since I've posted anything. We have seen our hopes for a great arbitration settlement shattered. We have watched the Bargaining team with guidance from OPSEU accept a contract that we rejected, without a vote, all to achieve the arbitration that amounted to nothing. We continue to watch our Institutions become overcrowded and our staffing levels slowly dwindle. We see some staff leaving for better things, burning out, or just plain having enough and leaving.

2016 has been a horrible year for Institutional Corrections. I don't claim to know as much about the community side but I do know from talking to those working there that this year has not been any better for them. They still have workloads they can't keep up to, there is still a huge disconnect on Health and Safety for the Probation and Parole officer working in offices with no security measures. All issues that were not addressed or improved through this round of bargaining.

One thing great I can say about 2016 is that our Locals were united and ready to walk. In my 12 years in Corrections I have never seen the local membership so together, Why do I think that is? I think our local leaders did an amazing job at rallying the troops and sharing what little information they had. The truth is we should have walked, we should have shown this Government that it isn't that easy to run our Institutions and Communities without us. I still feel that opportunity was stolen from us and would have been a huge step to improvements but we can't go back in time, so we need a plan to move forward.

I am also going to say that the CECBA reform group did a good job rallying those that didn't buy in to the OPSEU establishment. I may not have always seen eye to eye with them but members rallied behind them and it brought more people into the conversation on how to change our Division. I believe our Local Presidents do an amazing job for us but there are always those that don't believe in the way things are done and those people found a place to fight and voice their opinions with the CECBA group.

So after all this, after the arbitration decision, the bargaining team taking our right to vote, and the Collective Agreement that states nothing about our own division, where do we go? How do we move forward? Since the decision, it has been very quiet from our division. I am not sure if that is us accepting defeat or just a back to normal protocol of those at the top not sharing information again but something has to change. We can not keep doing things the way we have for the past 30 years and expect different results. Is that not the definition of insanity?

I think OPSEU leaders made a mistake not knowing that an arbitrator would still hold us linked to the Unified when he made his decision. I think it shows that maybe we need a new bargaining process. I think we have all made a slight mistake not keeping the pressure on this employer to make the needed changes to CECBA right now. If we continue to let time pass we will not have the ability to get the changes we need in time. We had a solid united division coming out of the last round and I feel we have let that slip. We need to ramp it up again going into the fall session of Parliament.

Once again our local Presidents are leading the charge, planning a new bargaining conference to decide the proper bargaining procedures going forward. I personally thank those who have stepped up to run this committee, we need change and we need it now not in 3 years. I think that our MERC team has done a good job but I do wish they were more transparent and communicated and led better. I remember a day a few years back when direction came from them, when the plan was implemented by them. I don't see that right now. I know all their hearts are in this division but I think it is time for a change,

I stepped down as Local President in the spring, first for personal reasons as the last 5 years have taken its toll on family life, and second to ensure if I decided to pursue my next goal in this division our local had a successor in place. While I was away I have found myself drawn back every day to fight for the needed changes in our workplaces. To bring this division together again to fight as one. I am 100% committed to my Sisters and Brothers in Corrections.

I am ready to bring proper communication to our leadership, where using the strength of the strong dedicated leaders this division has, becomes a common practice. I never claim to know everything and being able to communicate and receive direction from the membership is what being part of a Union is about. We always crack on OPSEU for not listening to us, well I am ready to listen and lead from the front.

It is for all these reasons, and the fact we need a solutions to the crisis we face before this profession falls apart, that I have decided to run for our MERC team and ask for the support of the membership and the local leaders that decide this election. Thank you to all my Sisters and Brothers who have fought beside me through out the years. Thank you to past and current MERC teams who have been mentors and leaders moving us in the right direction. Finally thank you to those that believe in me and support me in this endeavor.

Correctional Officer Wage Adjustmet Case Studies

First, I would like to say that this case study was provided to our bargaining team in January and was posted in this blog for all to see at the same time.  I was asked by others to remove the post and did so out of respect for their opinions.  

It has recently come to my attention that members are being told that this case study was conducted for a blanket raise across all classifications.  As you can see by reading this document, reposted in it's entirety below with it's original content, the arguments made are for a correctional officer wage adjustment only. 

I would also like to point out that all data contained in this case study was readily available on the Internet, anyone could have completed the same research on either side of the bargaining table to draw their own conclusions. 

Correctional Officer Wage Adjustment Case Studies

January 15, 2016

Preamble

This paper is being completed as an argument to use at Arbitration for Corrections Division with Arbitrator Kevin Burkett. The cases put forward below are for the classification of Correctional Officer (CO) within the Corrections division of the OPS. The information used within this paper is verified through Provincial contacts, Collective Agreements and recruiting sites. Each case will consist of its own arguments towards a fair and proper wage adjustment for Correctional Officers. In conclusion all cases will be brought together to show a final analysis and position of the author. Here is a table that will include all data being used for the case studies.

	Corrections	Police	Fire
Ontario/Toronto	$67,891	$98,776(OPP) $98,779(Tor)	$98,779
Federal	$74,796	$82,108(RCMP)	N/A
Manitoba/Winnipeg	$74,504	$94,029	$88,011
Alberta/Calgary	$70,054	$91,391	$85,841

*all rates are top rates for their respective positions

The information above is reflective across Canada. The use of Manitoba, being our closest neighbour, and Alberta, being our closest counterpart in economic size, provides a fair assessment. With the inclusion of the Federal counterparts in each category gives us another analysis to the difference in salary levels in comparable jobs.

Going forward, this paper will compare apples to apples, by only comparing wage levels of each profession to each other. It is a fair assessment, that in our own Emergency Service positions we apply the same duties and responsibilities across the board. 

Case Study #1

As you can see above Ontario is the highest paid Province in Canada for Police Services and Fire Services. Emergency workers throughout Ontario see the highest wages when compared across the country. Correctional Officers are the exception to the rule. The Ontario Liberals have gone on record after the settlement of our Collective Agreement to state they recognize us as an Essential Service. We are currently working towards the same recognition on Bill 2 in Ontario to recognize Correctional workers as First Responders.

Ontario can show the ability to pay the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) the highest wages in Canada. Municipalities in Ontario are paying the highest rates in Canada for Police and Fire services. Correctional Officers should see the same treatment. Ontario COs lag behind the rest of the country. Based on the numbers in the above table we are 9% lower than Manitoba. Ontario should provide their Correctional Officers the same benefit they provide their other emergency service workers and make us the highest paid in Canada.

Case Study #2

Taking into account the similarities of the job, an OPP officer has similar duties and responsibilities as an RCMP officer. However the wage disparity between the two forces is dramatic. OPP top rate is $98,776, while an RCMP top rate is $82,108. That is a 17% difference.

Taking into account Federal Corrections has long term offenders who are serving sentences over 2 years, and Provincial Corrections has short term offenders serving less the 2 years or remanded on their charges, the mandate of care, custody and control remains the same for both. Arguments can be made that Provincial Corrections receive the offenders right off the street, while Federal system receives them after they have rehabilitated in the Provincial system for a time being. Both systems have their dangers and both have many similarities. Then why is it that Federal Corrections top rate is $74,796 while Ontario is $67,891? That is a 9% difference.

Basing the argument that if Ontario pays the OPP 17% more the federal RCMP, why is Ontario paying its Correctional Officers 9% less than their Federal counterparts? If you used the exact 17% difference, there is argument that Ontario Corrections should be paid 17% more than their counterparts which would place the top rate wage of an Ontario CO at $87,511.

Case Study #3

This study is based strictly on comparisons between municipal Police services. Taking into account Police duties and responsibilities are comparable across the country, I will show the difference in top rate between a Toronto officer and an officer in both Winnipeg and Calgary.

Using the top rate salaries in the table, we see that a Toronto officer makes 7.5% more than a Calgary officer and 5% more than a Winnipeg Officer. Once again this shows the ability of Ontario to pay their emergency services higher than the rest of the country.

When it comes to comparing CO top rate, Ontario lags 3% below Alberta and 9% below Manitoba. Basing pay increases on the differences in the Police services, one can argue Ontario should see a wage 7.5% greater than Alberta or $75,308, or 5% more than in Manitoba or $78,229. By comparing like professions and ability to pay we can see that Ontario Corrections deserves a significant wage increase.

Case Study #4

This study is based strictly on comparisons between municipal Fire services. Taking into account Fire duties and responsibilities are comparable across the country we will show the difference between a Toronto Fire Fighter and a Fire Fighter in both Winnipeg and Calgary.

Using the top rate salaries in the table, we see that Toronto Fire makes 13% more than Calgary Fire and 11% more than Winnipeg Fire. This shows the ability of Ontario to pay their emergency services higher than the rest of the country.

When it comes to comparing CO pay rate, as we seen in the above case, Ontario lags 3% below Alberta and 9% below Manitoba. Basing pay increases on differences shown in the Fire services, one can argue Ontario should see a wage 13% greater than Alberta or $79,161 or 11% more than in Manitoba or $82,699. Again comparing like professions and ability to pay, we can see that Ontario Corrections deserves a significant wage increase.

Case Study #5

Now to bring the numbers together, we will take the average top rate for Police and Fire in each jurisdiction and compare the difference across each. So below is the average Police/Fire top rate:

·         Ontario = $98,779

·         Alberta = $88,616

·         Manitoba = $91,020

Using the above numbers you see Ontario is once again ahead; 10% compared to Alberta and 8% compared to Manitoba.

Taking those percentages it would place Ontario Corrections at $77,059 compared to Alberta or $80,464 compared to Manitoba. Once again this shows the amount Ontario Correctional Officers are behind.

Case Study #6

The final study is simply taking the above average wage of Police and Fire and showing the difference within that Province to Corrections.

·         Alberta: Police/Fire earn 21% more than Corrections

·         Manitoba: Police/Fire earn 18% more than Corrections

In Ontario Police/Fire earn an astounding 31% more than Corrections. When taking into consideration the 1979 Shapiro report, that stated Correctional Officers should always be within $1000 of an OPP 1^st class Constable, it is damaging to the profession to have COs so far behind.

If you were to take 19.5%, being the average between the Alberta and Manitoba differences, and ensured Ontario was that distance away from Ontario Police/Fire it would put CO2 top rate at $79,517.

Conclusion

As one can see Ontario has continuously under paid their Correctional Officers. There has been 0% increases for 2013, 2014, 2015. Before that the small increases were paid for by lose of shift premiums or other concessions. Corrections in Ontario has not seen a true wage increase for over 5 years. As the numbers show, the pay rate has suffered drastically. We currently have a crisis in corrections, one that has a lack of staffing at the forefront. There is not an influx of new hires coming in. The Government states the numbers that they have hired but refuse to comment on the numbers who have left their positions in the same timeframe. We are currently short staffed by 1000 officers in Ontario and with the baby boom generation continuing to retire this means more than 30% of our staff will be retiring in the next 3 years. To be able to hire quality staff and ensure the retention of experienced staff we need a wage increase now.

Taking all the final wages for Ontario Correctional Officers throughout this paper, (87511+75308+78229+79161+82699+77059+80464+79517) and averaging them, we come to a final fair wage of $79,993. Including a retention bonus, along the lines of the OPP, would also go a long way to retain more quality staff.

Taking all the above, along with the Special Wage Cases presented comparing Correctional Officers to Court Officers and Special Constables within Ontario, I feel a 5% bi-annual raise for the 2 remaining years would be fair.

Jan 1, 2016          5%

July 1, 2016         5%

Jan 1, 2017          5%

July 1, 2017         5%

Thank you Mr. Burkett for considering these Wage Adjustment Case Studies. We look forward to your fair ruling on this matter.

Respectfully Submitted,

James Nowe

CO Kenora Jail

President OPSEU Local 719

Members Letter to Premier Wynne

Today I was sent a letter from a member. I thought I would share it in its original form. Please read and share. I would love to see this printed in the Newspapers. It says it all when it comes to how this Government treats its employees.

An Open Letter to Premier Wynne from a Sick Corrections Officer

Ms. Wynne:

After years of exemplary attendance, I called in sick today and I have been asked by one of your public servants for a note from my doctor telling him “Why you’re sick”.  I explained that I would not be able to get to see my doctor immediately and, by the time I was, he would have no idea why I was sick other than what I would tell him.  Unlike my employer, I’m sure he would take me at my word.  At this suggestion, I was told that I should go to emergency to see a doctor.  I replied I had no intention of sitting in emergency for hours, as this would do nothing to help me.  I did assure your manager, that he would get his note.  As it will take some time to get this, here are my personal thoughts in the hope that it will serve some cathartic benefit to my poor health. 

Why am I sick?

I am sick because every day this week, and earlier last year, I walked down the driveway to my place of employment and saw hundreds of thousands of dollars of public money being wasted to provide accommodations for managers in the event of a labour dispute. Work that began before labour negotiations were even initiated.  First it was utility hookups in 2014 before we even began bargaining, then this week one trailer, then 3, then 5 and now 7 have rolled into our parking spaces.  If your intent was to foment anger it was a very effective policy.  I humbly suggest that a better policy would have been to negotiate in good faith.

I am sick because your government can’t seem to do anything to provide a fair contract and safe working conditions for your employees and yet you so readily waste millions of dollars in a completely unnecessary battle of wills.  I have heard over $100,000,000 so far to prevent about 6,200 from getting a fair contract.  That’s about $ 16,129 per person and the real spending hasn’t even started.

I am sick that because they don’t have a union to protect them, managers are to remain in the institutions.  You think that providing scabs for backup will make it better for them when, in fact, it will put them in further danger. Pay at double time and a half doesn’t do you much good, when you’re separated from your family, at work around the clock, broken down from stress, or worse, injured while working under unsafe conditions. It is why I have personally chosen not to work any overtime despite a staffing shortage.

I am sick that in the event of a strike, nurses, cooks, office staff, and maintenance staff will remain behind in this unsafe environment as well.

I am sick because when it was clearly obvious many years ago that there would be a severe shortage of staff coming, the government’s decision was to put in place a hiring freeze, forcing us to the point where we are short staffed almost every working day.  More recently, further wage reductions at the entry level were ratified, reducing incentives to work in the field of corrections. How does this help?

I am sick because since I started my career in corrections the offender population in my institution has tripled. Nothing much else has been put in place to deal with this effectively, not staffing, not infrastructure.  The use of the term Corrections in naming this ministry is a farce.  Many days we can’t even get the garbage out.  Yes, we have a few lazy staff as do all workplaces, but mostly they’re just worn out and beaten down from trying to do too much with too little. 

I am sick because accommodating three to four people in a cell not much larger than most home bathrooms, often locked down for days, cannot do much to affect rehabilitation.  I never foresaw a day when I would feel sorry for any offender.  It has come.

I am sick because the behavioural sink created within our institutions has created an unnecessarily dangerous environment within which to work. 

I am sick because the situation this government has created will likely result in good people being hurt.

I could go on, but I’m feeling a little bit better now.

And finally, I am sick because there were a lot of illnesses within the disgusting third-world environment where I work, and I was unfortunate enough to pick something up.  I slept in until 10:30 in the morning after my evening shift and woke up with a sore throat, achy all over and a headache.  This is the point where I called in sick.  The request for a doctor’s note did nothing to help me feel better, only make me feel angrier.  I haven’t been asked for one since I was in public school and I’ve grown up since then.  I count the days and thank God I retire soon.  Such governance makes me feel sick and tired all the time.

A note from my doctor will follow, as requested.

Your faithful public servant,

John Haller CO2