A few days away from what will go down in history as a monumental Vote for Ontario Corrections, I am left thinking, how did we end up here? After 30+ years of fighting with many different Ontario Governments for respect, we sit no further ahead. Maybe even more beaten down then ever before. We are stuck in a never ending story of disregard and belittlement. So today I want to attempt to explain our story with an analogy.
Every day people are living in abusive relationships. We all know someone or have read the stories of those who fight through these situations. Abuse can be many things, physical, mental, emotional. To me Corrections relationship with the Ontario Government is just that type of relationship. We continuously deal with abuse from our employer. We deal with physical assaults, mentally draining interactions, and emotional damage through our experiences. Yet our employer refuses to help and allows the continued abuse.
Every now and again we get a chance to stand up to that abuse. To tell this abuser we have had enough and we need the abuse to stop. Then the employer makes promises, promises it will get better, promises they will stop the abuse, promises we will work together to strengthen our relationship. We rationalize our situation and fear the unknown of what would happen if we fought back. So we believe in the promises and we stay. We hope it gets better. Then once they have us believing them they start the abuse again. Once again we have had enough and we start to fight back. We have support of our friends and family who tell us they can't take seeing us this way. We know we need to get out of this and see whats on the other side of that door. Again the employer apologizes, says they will make things better we just have to trust them. They will change. We once again believe and trust in them to keep their promise.
The final straw comes, the abuse has grown to the point we can't survive if we stay. Institutions are exploding, members are getting hurt daily, PTSD is at its highest level in history. We are all afraid of whats on the other side of that door, but in our heart of hearts we know we need to get out. Never before have we had the support of all our friends and family. Pushing us, holding us up, committing to fighting this fight with us. Never before have we felt this strong, this supported, this determined. We have taken enough abuse. We have believed our last promise for better times ahead. We need to realize over the years all of these promises have been broken, why would this one be any different. The time is now.
Please stand beside me, behind me and in front of me. Show me the support I am willing to give to you. The abuse needs to stop and it needs to stop now. There isn't a better time to stand up to this abusing Employer. I will make you a promise. I promise to stand there and fight until we see the other side of the door. Until we are out of this relationship and moving forward for the betterment of every member who deals with the abuse. Without standing strong and united we will falter, but as a hand in hand wall we will accomplish our goals.
On December 8th and 9th, just say, enough is enough, we will not take the abuse anymore.
Just Say NO!!
Sunday, 6 December 2015
Monday, 30 November 2015
Why We Need To Reject This Tentative Agreement
Sisters and Brothers of our great Corrections Division, before I start to put my opinion on paper I want to thank all of you. Every member who has given their time and dedicated countless hours to this fight with our Employer. I have never seen this Division as United as I have over the past two years. With that being said there is never complete unity in a democratic vote. I respect all opinions and those who feel this contract is what is best for the members of this division, I say good for you. It takes strong minds and strong wills to vocalize your opinion in this Division. We all need to remain professional and respectful no matter what ones opinion is. Create constructive dialogue without harassment and bullying. This is a tough time in Corrections no matter how this vote turns out. We will continue to rely on each other.
For those that have met me or read my blogs you know the effort and fight I have put in for reaching a Corrections Stand Alone agreement with Binding Arbitration. I wrote up a petition demanding the Government recognize us as 100% Essential, which has over 4500 signatures. I have traveled across the Province with other great leaders shouting from the rooftops that we need this now.
For those that have met me or read my blogs you know the effort and fight I have put in for reaching a Corrections Stand Alone agreement with Binding Arbitration. I wrote up a petition demanding the Government recognize us as 100% Essential, which has over 4500 signatures. I have traveled across the Province with other great leaders shouting from the rooftops that we need this now.
OPSEU and the Bargaining Team are recommending the Correctional
Bargaining Unit accpet this Tentaive Offer. However, as President of OPSEU Local 719 Kenora Jail I am recommending the Correctional BU reject this offer in high numbers. This is also the
recommendation of many Local Presidents across the Province, TBCC, TEDC,
SWDC, EMDC, OCDC, Niagra Jail, Stratford Jail, MHCC, TSDC, OCI, just to name a few.
The
reason behind this recommendation is that this contract falls short. We have a Crisis in Corrections and this offer does nothing in my eyes to address this crisis right now. Everyday we go into work we run the risk of injury, disease, even death. We work under policies that puts the onus on us to remain professional and safe while offenders are insulting, threatening, spitting, gassing, or assaulting us. We are brought under fire, many losing their jobs, when we protect ourselves, our coworkers, and even when we protect offenders from each other. We work with a staffing model that was drawn up 20 years ago, while the offender population has tripled, grown more brash, and become more experienced. We deal with those offenders who suffer from Mental Illness and should not even be incarcerated, if it wasn't for the Ontario Government closing our Mental Hospitals. Staffing levels have hit an all time low, leaving Institutions locked up and under staffed to complete our daily tasks. Yes these are just a few of the issues that make up the Crisis in Corrections. So how does this Liberal Government, who has wasted billions of tax payers dollars through scandal, try to solve this. They offer us an insulting, degrading contract offer with one carrot, praying we bite and believe their threats and ultimatums.
I will start with a few of the items our BT feels are wins. First being CTO, Compensating Time Off, that they removed from us unilaterally after we signed a past agreement. Some may not realize that it still exists in our CA and states under mutual agreement with employer CTO can be given. Now the Government offers us a cap of 36 hours quarterly, that can be used depending on operational needs.With our staff shortage we can not even staff every shift fully, how can we expect our employer to let someone have a day off with CTO when we are already short for the shift. There is no language that guarantees approval. I do not personaly see this as a win.
Many are deeming the ACL, Administrative Compensating Leave, as a raise.
I am trying to understand this. There is still a question out there if it is pensionable. I don't see how this is possible due to the fact
some people will use it for days off instead of cashing it out so for some it won't have added monetary value.
To say it adds up to an extra 2% per year if cashed in makes no sense.
For most we are so overworked that an extra 3 days off is better then
the cash value. Those that use it as time off will not achieve an extra 2% in pay. Also in the era where we have an unlimited amount of
Overtime available, working only two 12 hour OT shifts in the year
amounts to nearly 2% gain. Is being short staffed and creating unlimited OT a win? I don't think so. We need
valuable pensionable gains for our members, not bribes.
The salary grid freeze we are asking our newest hires to accept is for me the most insulting part of this offer. Asking new hires and those who do not have a full 6 years in to stay
frozen in their current position on the wage grid for 2 years is wrong. FXTs do the exact same job as all of us at top rate. They deal with the same offenders and issues every day. We already allowed this Government to create a new level on the grid 5% lower for new hires in 2013. How can we once again ask them to suffer for us. Has anyone done the math? I will not even use a brand new hire. I will
use those that were hired in the last year, the ones who would be bottom
level of a CO2. They make 25.81 or 53,684.80 a year. They would have
earned at one level higher, 26.61 or 55,348.80. The next year they would
have earned 28.69 or 59,675.20. So in total over the 2 years they lose
7,654.40. That is a large amount of money. I have had FXTs tell me they will not be able to take a full time position and lose their 14% in lieu. We continue to raise issues for the need of new staff. This ties our hands for attracting
quality staff going forward, when a new recruit can make more money in
all other Law Enforcement professions. Why would he apply to be locked
in with offenders for 30+ years of his life making peanuts. We never solve our hiring demand with this deal.
We have not seen an increase in wage over the past 2 year contract
and this offer is asking for 2 more years of 0% increases. This is
unacceptable. Wage adjustment was our Co-number one demand for our members and it was absolutely rejected. We all have seen the numbers everywhere, how far behind we are. A top
rate CO2 makes 32.64 or 67,891.20, compared to top rate OPP at about
98,000, court officers through out the province making in the 80,000
range. OPP civilian clerks make over 70,000 and our own OPSEU staff
secretaries make around 70,000. We have spent too much time getting
shit, piss, cum, puke and blood thrown at us to make as little as we do.
For those retiring in the next few years I personally apologize, as
your best 5 years will be an identical salary of 67,891.20. How much
money in your pension did you leave behind for fear of striking.
Corporations and Governments use the scare tactic that you never make
back what you lose on a strike. It is a fear mongering statement to
suppress working people from fighting. Now we have members on the
Bargaining team using it to instill fear in our membership to accept
this offer. Statements like we lose 2% of our yearly wage every week we are out, while
being a true statement, can not be used to say we need to earn that back
in a raise to break even. We don't and I will prove it. I am going to
be throwing out 3 scenarios based on our contract from 2013-2016, 4
years, and assuming that the 1.4% in 2017 would be the same in all
scenarios. Also past 2017 I will assume all the same numbers going into
the future so each scenario after the 4 years would rise the same
percent amount. Scenario 1: Exactly what we have had, 0% pensionable
wage increases each year, so we made 67891.20 * 4 = 271,564.80. Scenario
2: Assume we went on strike in 2013, the strike lasted 4 weeks which
today I can't see it lasting that long. After the strike we earn a
measly 1.5% annual raise and to avoid a strike, as they know we are
willing to, we get the 1.5% for 2015 and 2016. In the first year we must
subtract the loss from the strike and in that year we earn only
63,687.00. Now each year with the raise our income goes
69,950.40/70,990.40/72,051.20 which totals 276,679.00, a difference of
+3885.80. Scenario 3: This scenario shows the difference of choosing not
to fight now and letting more years of zeros go by. So we will leave it
the way it is 0% for 2013 and 2014. Now lets assume we received that
same 1.5% for 2015 and 2016. So it would be
67,891.20/67,891.20/68,910.40/69,959.40 for a total of 274,643.20.
Waiting 2 years to fight cost us 2,035.80. This is all pensionable
earnings for when we finish our 30 years of working in a place no member
of the public wants to. For one final look at the difference this makes
long term, taking our 2016 ending salary in all three scenarios and
assuming equal increases for the next 10 years we have a total earnings
of 678,912.00 in Scenario 1, 720,512.00 in Scenario 2 and 699,504.00 in
Scenario 3. That is a difference of 41,600.00 lost by not fighting now. How can we afford not to strike? Every raise matters. What if we won more then 1.5%? When inflation is
rising at an average of 1.5% we have actually lost over 6% buying power
for our money. When you are going into retirement that is a huge hit.
Even the minimum wage is showing increases over this time. Of all the
professions that deal with our criminal society we are the lowest paid
individuals, ones who suffer from the highest rate of PTSD. Is this fair? NO.
The number one demand in my eyes is a Corrections Stand Alone agreement with interest arbitration, where
we can bargain our own unique issues, separate from Unified members. This is being offered through language for 2018. I have spent countless hours looking over this language. I have spoken to the few Presidents that are accepting this agreement and this is the area we disagree on most. Those accepting this agreement believe this is our only way to a Corrections Stand Alone agreement. They also believe that the Employer's threat of taking Corrections Only off the table if we don't accept this contract is true. The language in the agreement leaves too many ways for the Government to
back out or escape from this over the next 2 years. Examples are, ".....the parties acknowledge that any legislative amendments to CECBA 1993 will be conditional upon the direction of government.....",
".....subject to the direction of the government...","....access to interest arbitration or a meaningful right to strike....", strikes are what we are trying to avoid; "...if the parties negotiate a Correctional Stand Alone agreement....","....If any paragraph in this MOS is inconsistent with Revised CECBA , the terms of Revised CECBA shall govern.. ". If the
Government does decide to"Revise" CECBA in any form and that revision
does not contain specific Language for a Stand Alone Corrections
Agreement ( or Arbitration..) ,then it appears that Legislation over
rides all these so-called clauses and OPSEU agreed to NO appeals. If the Government has not amended CECBA by 2018 then Appendix A kicks in. Here is the fail safe that some are banking on. What I don't understand, what I need answered is how can an Appendix to a MOA override CECBA legislation. In the end CECBA has to be amended no matter what. So how Appendix A avoids this I have no idea. If it does avoid it then why can't it do it right now and we can work on amendments as we go. This is a serious
issue that needs to be addressed now not in 2018. The Liberals even
added an ultimatum that if we do not accept all the other take aways
they would remove the Corrections Stand Alone agreement offer for ever.
If you ask me that is a bribe and bargaining in bad faith.
I can not honestly believe that three years ago
when we created the 1st Committee to see if we could achieve the Stand
Alone, we would have accepted this language. Absolutely no way. Ask
yourselves this, if Corr Only was not in this offer would you even
contemplate voting Yes? I don't think so, and I don't think it is strong
enough to blindly accept it now. Please look at a chronological order
of what we have achieved and tell me if you are satisfied.
We started
the committee in 2013, we took it to the convention floor where all of
OPSEU told us to sit down and it will never happen, and we didn't quit.
Smokey wrote a letter with over 20 points of how Corr Only couldn't,
shouldn't and wouldn't ever happen, and we responded by uniting and
writing multiple letters arguing his points and never quit. We were told
by the same labour lawyer who is now telling us this language is solid
that in his legal opinion we couldn't achieve this without opening CECBA
and hurting OPSEU, yet we rallied at Grosvener where a true leader was
arrested and we never quit. We even played nice at 2015 Convention where
every one of our resolutions were either not heard or rejected and we
never quit. We continuously were told by this same Bargaining team, who
is now telling us they achieved this goal, that it wasn't a demand and
we couldn't get it this round, yet we never quit. We marched on OPSEU
headquarters and demanded this be taken seriously, and finally there was
bend in OPSEU to look at us, because they knew we would never quit. So I
say after all this on the very first offer of a Corrections Stand Alone
agreement, with horribly weak language at best, we are going to quit
and chance our future on a Government who hates us, a Union who's
President has told us hates us, a Bargaining team who wouldn't listen to
us until they saw how horrible being linked to Unified really was, and a labour lawyer
who admitted opening up CECBA was too risky. This all seems surreal to me. I respect the opinions of those leaders I've fought beside but I in no way understand it.
My final point is in regards to the idea that if we don't ratify
Corr Only is gone for ever. I see this as a pure fear mongering
ultimatum the Government wants to see work. How can we not be calling them on bargaining in bad faith. I'm sure bribing people is not a good faith act. As I said above look at how
far we have come. We hold the cards and the power. A strong NO vote
tells them we deserve better. There is no way that this Government wants
blood on their hands and they know there will be without us in these
institutions or supervising offenders in the community. We are so close
to the biggest wins in the history of Labour Fights. A division ignored
by their own union, hated and beat down by a Government, stands solid
and strong together and fights for the rights of their members both new
and old. This Government asked for "net zeros", well they achieved so
much more then that when Unified ratified. Why would we let them
achieve better then "net zeros" with us. There is a lot of money in the
coffers after Unified settled and the Employer knows, with Corrections not linked to Unified, they will forever win savings off the backs of the rest of the OPS. So why accept
this very weak offer.
I recommend rejecting this offer
because we are worth more and this Government can't do our jobs without
us. Lets stand together and show them we are right.
Friday, 20 November 2015
Amazing Letter Written By a Correctional Officers Wife
I was granted permission to post a Letter in its entirety to my blog. Why I asked for permission was simple, it is an amazing letter, written perfectly from the heart. It will touch so many people, wives, husbands, friends, family, children with relationships with those working our profession. Please take the time to read this letter. I thank the Author and the Husband who granted permission.
"This is a very powerfully written letter called CO Wife Life. Written by a coworker, friend and brother in blue's, wife and partner for life.
Take the time to read this. It's quite something.
Dear Mr. Yasir Naqvi,
I would like to take this opportunity to open your eyes to the reality and daily struggles that I personally face as the wife of a Correctional Officer. My husband isn’t aware that I am writing this to you, but as I watch him come home every night, beyond exhausted and extremely stressed due to the possible upcoming strike, things need to change to better the lives of all of the men and women who continue to put their lives and safety on the line every day while working at the Ottawa Carleton Detention Centre.
My husband has been working at OCDC for 9 years now. We have been together for 7 years and I continue to watch him deteriorate; physically, mentally, and emotionally due to his line of work. My husband has been involved and a part of major situations that I am sure that you have read about and he has most likely seen more in the past 9 years then you, or anyone else for the matter will see throughout your whole lives.
My husband has witnessed disturbing fights and seen gruesome injuries yet he continues to risk his life immediately and without any hesitation when the emergency alarm sounds to break up serious altercations between inmates. He has witnessed horrific suicide attempts, yet has gone beyond and above to save several lives of inmates who are ungrateful and continue to attempt to commit suicide on a daily basis. Unfortunately, he has also witnessed horrifying deaths that have caused him to struggle with post traumatic stress issues, unpredictable mood swings, and violent night terrors that I have to try to wake him up from on a nightly basis.
Due to his line of work as a Correctional Officer, my husband has developed major anxiety issues and would rather stay in the comfort and safety of his own home then being out in public on any occasion. Simple things that couples take for granted, such as going out for a nice dinner in the downtown core, going to a movie, or going to a crowded concert or sporting event are out of the question now thanks to the toll of his job.
We had our first child together and his two year old daughter is his complete life and world yet he has missed and continues to miss out on major milestones of her life because he is required to spend the majority of his time at the jail. Depending on his scheduled 12 hour shifts and mandatory overtime that he is required to work, he can go upwards of 4 days to a week without seeing his little girl which clearly affects the emotional well being of our daughter who struggles to understand why her Daddy is never home. While most families who work “9am-5pm” jobs continue to live happy and healthy lives, eat family dinners together, and bring new children into this world, we struggle with the decision of having another baby at this time because being married to a Correctional Officer leaves me with the feeling of being a “single married mom”; never realizing how lonely and depressing being the spouse of a CO would be. My husband often times works more hours in 1 week then most public servants will work in 2 weeks. He is barely around on weekends and night shifts put us on complete opposite schedules yet I have to be strong and put a smile on my face while trying to reason with our little girl while she cries for her Daddy to be home to lay with her in bed at night.
My husband has missed out on numerous family events, birthdays, Easter holidays, Thanksgiving dinners, and Christmas celebrations. This year especially, my daughter and I are the ones who missed out on enjoying a summer holiday with him because he was denied vacation time due to the lack of staff issue at OCDC. I completely understand that working holidays is a required part of their job, yet I struggle to understand why Correctional Officers are currently fighting to be considered an essential service when they are the front-line employees who make that jail run on a daily “24/7” basis despite all of the struggles and lack of support that they are currently dealing with.
While the stress of my husband’s job continues to take a toll on his overall health and daily life, the constant advice that people offer is “get another job” which is easier said than done. The co-workers that my husband works with everyday have become a part of his family and the only reason why he continues to go into that dysfunctional, unsafe, and chaotic working atmosphere is for the well being of his “shift brothers and sisters.” Correctional officers right now are doing their jobs despite obeying the proper safety protocol and spending countless hours writing detailed incident reports because they are so short staffed. Inmates are extra aggressive and angry right now and most upper management don’t care about staffs issues and concerns on the floor, so the only people that my husband can rely on for support are his “brothers and sisters in blue”.
Unfortunately, being a CO requires my husband to be married to his job, just as much, if not more than he is married to me and his family. As hard as it is for him to go into that jail every day, he takes pride in being a CO and his daily intention is to protect his staff and inmates from harm while knowing that he is at risk of being assaulted at any given time. Being a Correctional Officer right now is like walking on eggshells since they are unable to do their jobs properly without having the constant worry of being investigated or losing their jobs for anything they say or do. It has gotten to the point where inmates have more people advocating for their rights and well being than the CO’s do right now which is a clearly a huge issue. Ironically enough, the only articles that have been published in the media, over the last year especially, are inmate-centered and force the public to view Correctional Officers as monsters. I think that it’s time that the media starts publishing articles on the mental health issues that CO’s have developed from post traumatic situations and the depression, anger, and fear that they live with on a daily basis. It takes an extremely strong and dedicated type of person to do the job that these men and women do around the clock to protect our community. The least they can ask for right now is being recognized as an essential service to get the recognition and appreciation that they deserve.
I have written this letter to you based on my personal struggles as the spouse of a CO but I feel that I speak for many CO wives when I share this information with you. I ask that while you read this letter, please relate with me on a personal level. Living with a Correctional Officer is almost impossible, yet this is what I signed up for when I decided to marry my husband and start a family. Seeing the daily struggles that my husband now faces in his everyday life is very upsetting compared to the “happy-go-lucky” person who I met 7 years ago. These CO’s have been without a contract for a year now and they have been given minimal information during this time creating even more stress on their already pressured lives. That being said, as the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services, these men and women need your support more than anything right now and they need your voice to advocate for their well being during this very important time in their careers."
Thank you for reading this and please share everywhere. This needs to get out there.
"This is a very powerfully written letter called CO Wife Life. Written by a coworker, friend and brother in blue's, wife and partner for life.
Take the time to read this. It's quite something.
Dear Mr. Yasir Naqvi,
I would like to take this opportunity to open your eyes to the reality and daily struggles that I personally face as the wife of a Correctional Officer. My husband isn’t aware that I am writing this to you, but as I watch him come home every night, beyond exhausted and extremely stressed due to the possible upcoming strike, things need to change to better the lives of all of the men and women who continue to put their lives and safety on the line every day while working at the Ottawa Carleton Detention Centre.
My husband has been working at OCDC for 9 years now. We have been together for 7 years and I continue to watch him deteriorate; physically, mentally, and emotionally due to his line of work. My husband has been involved and a part of major situations that I am sure that you have read about and he has most likely seen more in the past 9 years then you, or anyone else for the matter will see throughout your whole lives.
My husband has witnessed disturbing fights and seen gruesome injuries yet he continues to risk his life immediately and without any hesitation when the emergency alarm sounds to break up serious altercations between inmates. He has witnessed horrific suicide attempts, yet has gone beyond and above to save several lives of inmates who are ungrateful and continue to attempt to commit suicide on a daily basis. Unfortunately, he has also witnessed horrifying deaths that have caused him to struggle with post traumatic stress issues, unpredictable mood swings, and violent night terrors that I have to try to wake him up from on a nightly basis.
Due to his line of work as a Correctional Officer, my husband has developed major anxiety issues and would rather stay in the comfort and safety of his own home then being out in public on any occasion. Simple things that couples take for granted, such as going out for a nice dinner in the downtown core, going to a movie, or going to a crowded concert or sporting event are out of the question now thanks to the toll of his job.
We had our first child together and his two year old daughter is his complete life and world yet he has missed and continues to miss out on major milestones of her life because he is required to spend the majority of his time at the jail. Depending on his scheduled 12 hour shifts and mandatory overtime that he is required to work, he can go upwards of 4 days to a week without seeing his little girl which clearly affects the emotional well being of our daughter who struggles to understand why her Daddy is never home. While most families who work “9am-5pm” jobs continue to live happy and healthy lives, eat family dinners together, and bring new children into this world, we struggle with the decision of having another baby at this time because being married to a Correctional Officer leaves me with the feeling of being a “single married mom”; never realizing how lonely and depressing being the spouse of a CO would be. My husband often times works more hours in 1 week then most public servants will work in 2 weeks. He is barely around on weekends and night shifts put us on complete opposite schedules yet I have to be strong and put a smile on my face while trying to reason with our little girl while she cries for her Daddy to be home to lay with her in bed at night.
My husband has missed out on numerous family events, birthdays, Easter holidays, Thanksgiving dinners, and Christmas celebrations. This year especially, my daughter and I are the ones who missed out on enjoying a summer holiday with him because he was denied vacation time due to the lack of staff issue at OCDC. I completely understand that working holidays is a required part of their job, yet I struggle to understand why Correctional Officers are currently fighting to be considered an essential service when they are the front-line employees who make that jail run on a daily “24/7” basis despite all of the struggles and lack of support that they are currently dealing with.
While the stress of my husband’s job continues to take a toll on his overall health and daily life, the constant advice that people offer is “get another job” which is easier said than done. The co-workers that my husband works with everyday have become a part of his family and the only reason why he continues to go into that dysfunctional, unsafe, and chaotic working atmosphere is for the well being of his “shift brothers and sisters.” Correctional officers right now are doing their jobs despite obeying the proper safety protocol and spending countless hours writing detailed incident reports because they are so short staffed. Inmates are extra aggressive and angry right now and most upper management don’t care about staffs issues and concerns on the floor, so the only people that my husband can rely on for support are his “brothers and sisters in blue”.
Unfortunately, being a CO requires my husband to be married to his job, just as much, if not more than he is married to me and his family. As hard as it is for him to go into that jail every day, he takes pride in being a CO and his daily intention is to protect his staff and inmates from harm while knowing that he is at risk of being assaulted at any given time. Being a Correctional Officer right now is like walking on eggshells since they are unable to do their jobs properly without having the constant worry of being investigated or losing their jobs for anything they say or do. It has gotten to the point where inmates have more people advocating for their rights and well being than the CO’s do right now which is a clearly a huge issue. Ironically enough, the only articles that have been published in the media, over the last year especially, are inmate-centered and force the public to view Correctional Officers as monsters. I think that it’s time that the media starts publishing articles on the mental health issues that CO’s have developed from post traumatic situations and the depression, anger, and fear that they live with on a daily basis. It takes an extremely strong and dedicated type of person to do the job that these men and women do around the clock to protect our community. The least they can ask for right now is being recognized as an essential service to get the recognition and appreciation that they deserve.
I have written this letter to you based on my personal struggles as the spouse of a CO but I feel that I speak for many CO wives when I share this information with you. I ask that while you read this letter, please relate with me on a personal level. Living with a Correctional Officer is almost impossible, yet this is what I signed up for when I decided to marry my husband and start a family. Seeing the daily struggles that my husband now faces in his everyday life is very upsetting compared to the “happy-go-lucky” person who I met 7 years ago. These CO’s have been without a contract for a year now and they have been given minimal information during this time creating even more stress on their already pressured lives. That being said, as the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services, these men and women need your support more than anything right now and they need your voice to advocate for their well being during this very important time in their careers."
Thank you for reading this and please share everywhere. This needs to get out there.
Wednesday, 4 November 2015
Ontario Corrections Moving Forward
Many of you have had your say or heard other points of view on what I can only describe as a shameful outcome for the OPS Tentative Agreement vote. The only thing that vote showed me was that too many people just follow what those in power tell them to do, instead of educating themselves based on facts. Facts were obvious, the offer as a whole was no where near "net zero" that the Government was selling. It was so far from "net zero", that someone with an ability to do common math could figure out we lost. Yet there was our Union and our Bargaining team selling this as the best we could get. They based the whole sale on the fact that they beat back the original concessions the Government wanted, therefore it was a win. Well Brothers and Sisters the only way you can judge a new contract is with comparison to the last contract, and when looked at through those eyes anyone can see we lost, a whole bunch, with nothing to cheer about as a win. Enough of that though as its too late to change anything now.
The true outcome of the vote, was how certain it showed the divide within the OPS. Many of you have read my continuous rants and reasons why Corrections does not belong with the rest of the OPS. This vote solidified that even more. 78% voted in favour for Unified, which is astronomically high considering the offer at hand, however only 67% voted yes for Central. Assuming that the same 78% of Unified voted for the Central it would have taken almost a perfect 100% of Corrections members, due to our low numbers, to vote against the deal to bring it down a full 11%. If that does not tell members of the current Unified and those on the bubble in Corrections that both sides do not belong together, I don't know what does. But I'll try to define it better by looking at this Central Agreement we have to live with going forward.
The first point is with the new rules added for LTIP and WSIB. In the Correctional environment our danger and risk of injury or Occupational Illness is much higher then the rest of the OPS. This means that the language in these articles calling for Mandatory Rehab, paying WSIB at the rate when injured, and making it more difficult to remain on LTIP, disproportionately effects Correctional Members. Yet even though we voted near 100% against this damaging language, we are still bound by it. In my eyes this language is a direct attack on my Human Rights based on the code. It is a direct attack on our family doctors and their credentials and a complete disrespect of our individual values and morals. We as Corrections staff can not allow this.
The next point is Termination pay. All I heard was that the Government is taking everyone's severance pay so we should be happy we got an extra year. Has anyone done the math? You could lose anywhere from $20,000 to $70,000. That my friends is a huge lose. If you are asking me to give that up then you should at least make a gain for my pension somehow. That never happened.
There are just too many negatives to this new agreement to accept. So now is definitely the time to accept the word of our Corrections leadership. To sit down and realize that there is an easy choice to make coming soon to a ballot near you. OPSEU and the Ad-hoc committee on Corrections Stand Alone Agreement has agreed to put this question to an actual membership vote. You as a Corrections Bargaining Unit member will finally have a say. After the petitions and the rallies and the interviews, OPSEU has finally gave the power to us. So don't waste it. Get out and vote. Decide your future as I think its a simple answer and that answer is YES.
It has been 3 full years now that I have been fighting for Corrections Only. From the original committee set up after the 2012 agreement, through the many letters and emails to Smokey Thomas, to the online petition at Change.org to make Corrections staff 100% essential. I have never wavered. I ran for the position of EBM so I can bring my leadership and fight for the working class to all areas of OPSEU but was told I would never get elected because I was a leader in the Corrections fight to divide OPSEU. That wasn't our goal and still isn't. Those potential EBMs who were vocally against Corrections Only were supported for wanting to keep OPSEU together and yet I never wavered, I stood by my beliefs, and I lost. No matter the question and no matter the risk to my future goals or accomplishments, I have always stood by my desire for a Corrections Stand Alone agreement. As so many other Corrections leaders have done so. I thank all of them for their unwavering support for this cause. Why we all did this was because we believed this was the best choice for our members.
Here we are today with those same EBMs and the same nay sayers realizing that Corrections Stand Alone agreement is the only fair and just thing for our division. The issues we face are distinct and unique to all others in OPSEU. We need support and I am proud to be part of the amazing leadership through out Corrections that has never faltered or wavered on this fact. It simply isn't an option to remain in the current state. We need to have all our voices heard. Listen to your Local leaders, attend info sessions when they happen and show up to Vote.
For those in Community Corrections reading this please go read this great piece, written by a member who I see as a current and future leader in our Division....Why Probation Officers Should Consider a Corr Only Agreement
I look forward to discussing this and our future with anyone who wants to ask.
The true outcome of the vote, was how certain it showed the divide within the OPS. Many of you have read my continuous rants and reasons why Corrections does not belong with the rest of the OPS. This vote solidified that even more. 78% voted in favour for Unified, which is astronomically high considering the offer at hand, however only 67% voted yes for Central. Assuming that the same 78% of Unified voted for the Central it would have taken almost a perfect 100% of Corrections members, due to our low numbers, to vote against the deal to bring it down a full 11%. If that does not tell members of the current Unified and those on the bubble in Corrections that both sides do not belong together, I don't know what does. But I'll try to define it better by looking at this Central Agreement we have to live with going forward.
The first point is with the new rules added for LTIP and WSIB. In the Correctional environment our danger and risk of injury or Occupational Illness is much higher then the rest of the OPS. This means that the language in these articles calling for Mandatory Rehab, paying WSIB at the rate when injured, and making it more difficult to remain on LTIP, disproportionately effects Correctional Members. Yet even though we voted near 100% against this damaging language, we are still bound by it. In my eyes this language is a direct attack on my Human Rights based on the code. It is a direct attack on our family doctors and their credentials and a complete disrespect of our individual values and morals. We as Corrections staff can not allow this.
The next point is Termination pay. All I heard was that the Government is taking everyone's severance pay so we should be happy we got an extra year. Has anyone done the math? You could lose anywhere from $20,000 to $70,000. That my friends is a huge lose. If you are asking me to give that up then you should at least make a gain for my pension somehow. That never happened.
There are just too many negatives to this new agreement to accept. So now is definitely the time to accept the word of our Corrections leadership. To sit down and realize that there is an easy choice to make coming soon to a ballot near you. OPSEU and the Ad-hoc committee on Corrections Stand Alone Agreement has agreed to put this question to an actual membership vote. You as a Corrections Bargaining Unit member will finally have a say. After the petitions and the rallies and the interviews, OPSEU has finally gave the power to us. So don't waste it. Get out and vote. Decide your future as I think its a simple answer and that answer is YES.
It has been 3 full years now that I have been fighting for Corrections Only. From the original committee set up after the 2012 agreement, through the many letters and emails to Smokey Thomas, to the online petition at Change.org to make Corrections staff 100% essential. I have never wavered. I ran for the position of EBM so I can bring my leadership and fight for the working class to all areas of OPSEU but was told I would never get elected because I was a leader in the Corrections fight to divide OPSEU. That wasn't our goal and still isn't. Those potential EBMs who were vocally against Corrections Only were supported for wanting to keep OPSEU together and yet I never wavered, I stood by my beliefs, and I lost. No matter the question and no matter the risk to my future goals or accomplishments, I have always stood by my desire for a Corrections Stand Alone agreement. As so many other Corrections leaders have done so. I thank all of them for their unwavering support for this cause. Why we all did this was because we believed this was the best choice for our members.
Here we are today with those same EBMs and the same nay sayers realizing that Corrections Stand Alone agreement is the only fair and just thing for our division. The issues we face are distinct and unique to all others in OPSEU. We need support and I am proud to be part of the amazing leadership through out Corrections that has never faltered or wavered on this fact. It simply isn't an option to remain in the current state. We need to have all our voices heard. Listen to your Local leaders, attend info sessions when they happen and show up to Vote.
For those in Community Corrections reading this please go read this great piece, written by a member who I see as a current and future leader in our Division....Why Probation Officers Should Consider a Corr Only Agreement
I look forward to discussing this and our future with anyone who wants to ask.
Thursday, 3 September 2015
We always have the Right to VOTE NO!!
It is the one right we hold in a democratic society. The right to vote. Whether its politics or your Collective Agreement, we have the right to vote. No matter what we are told by media, our leaders, political parties or our bosses, we have the right to a democratic process. We make up our own minds and decide what is right for us as individuals, for our families and for the greater good of the whole. Once we make this decision, we vote. We elect political parties through a vote. We elect municipal leaders through a vote. We elect our union leaders through a vote. We agree to our Collective agreement through a vote. So what I'm going to ask you and what I'm going to attempt to convince you is that please make up your own mind, and when you do, take the time to place your vote, as no matter how you feel every vote does count.
So today there was an announcement from OPSEU President Smokey Thomas and MPP Deb Mathews that Essential Emergency Service Agreement negotiations will be paused and Interest Bargaining will start up next week for the OPS. Now don't get me wrong, I feel we accomplish nothing negotiating EESAs, so getting back to the table is definitely a good step. However, does it seem just a little to convenient. Corrections was told over and over that we are yolked to Central and they were no where near finishing their EESAs, so we just had to be patient and wait. We did. We waited right through the Pan Am games and watched as the Liberals ran them without a hitch. As soon as the games passed, wham bam EESAs aren't important lets get back to the bargaining table. So is it justified for members to feel like Corporate OPSEU made a back room deal with the Wynne Government to allow the Pan Am games to happen without pickets as long as an offer was ready for September long weekend? For me it is definitely justified. Something seems shady and way to timed.
Well where does this leave us. I think we can expect an endorsed offer within the next two weeks. I hope it is more then a 0,0,1.5,1.5 wage increase. I hope its not the classic, we got them to take off all the concessions they put in the first offer so we actual beat them and won, kind of endorsement. However, no matter what happens or what OPSEU says we should do, it comes down to whether we feel the offer is something we can accept. I can not accept a measly wage increase with any 0s involved. For me there is only one way this offer can pass.
We as a Corrections Division can not continue to be linked to the rest of the Unified members when it comes to negotiating our contract. We should not have to be satisfied with a Factor 90 retirement age just because the majority of OPS workers don't face the ongoing issues we do. No one should be working in Corrections dealing with 20 something gang bangers into their 60s or even late 50s. It is wrong.
We as a Corrections Division will never reach the pay grade of our Law Enforcement and First Responder brethren while continuing to be linked to the rest of the OPS. There is no comparisons for wage parity between us and the Unified Division, so why if we should be granted a significant pay raise due to our dangerous jobs should everyone get that raise. We are 35% lower then the OPP, when the Shapiro report said we shouldn't be more then $1000 behind them. This is wrong.
We as a Corrections Division need stronger Health and Safety language, better sick program and stronger benefits. All of which we will never achieve if we are tied to the Unified members. Correctional Officers suffer from the highest rate of PTSD in all professions. Higher then combat soldiers, Police, Fire Fighters or Paramedics. Yet our sick program and H&S and benefits are linked to job classifications who would not even register on the PTSD scale. Again its wrong.
I have never once stated I want to leave my Union. I have never once said I wouldn't fight along side the Unified members for a better contract for them. I have never once said all Public Service Employees do not deserve respect or fair contracts. However, I have said and I will always say that Corrections is unique, with our own issues, our own dangers, our own systemic problems. None of which will ever be corrected if we don't bargain on our own within OPSEU for all issues.
So I ask, please, realize that we can't as a Division reach any of these improvements unless we have a Corrections Only Collective Agreement. We can't achieve Corrections Only without making a decision to fight for it. Look at the offer closely, because it is coming soon, and decide, whats important to me, my family and the greater good of the whole Corrections Division. If Unified accepts the offer then obviously they are satisfied with it but that doesn't mean you have to be.
Please......IF IT DOES NOT HAVE CORRECTIONS ONLY COLLECTIVE| AGREEMENT IN IT.......Use your Canadian Rights and ...............................................VOTE NO!!!
So today there was an announcement from OPSEU President Smokey Thomas and MPP Deb Mathews that Essential Emergency Service Agreement negotiations will be paused and Interest Bargaining will start up next week for the OPS. Now don't get me wrong, I feel we accomplish nothing negotiating EESAs, so getting back to the table is definitely a good step. However, does it seem just a little to convenient. Corrections was told over and over that we are yolked to Central and they were no where near finishing their EESAs, so we just had to be patient and wait. We did. We waited right through the Pan Am games and watched as the Liberals ran them without a hitch. As soon as the games passed, wham bam EESAs aren't important lets get back to the bargaining table. So is it justified for members to feel like Corporate OPSEU made a back room deal with the Wynne Government to allow the Pan Am games to happen without pickets as long as an offer was ready for September long weekend? For me it is definitely justified. Something seems shady and way to timed.
Well where does this leave us. I think we can expect an endorsed offer within the next two weeks. I hope it is more then a 0,0,1.5,1.5 wage increase. I hope its not the classic, we got them to take off all the concessions they put in the first offer so we actual beat them and won, kind of endorsement. However, no matter what happens or what OPSEU says we should do, it comes down to whether we feel the offer is something we can accept. I can not accept a measly wage increase with any 0s involved. For me there is only one way this offer can pass.
We as a Corrections Division can not continue to be linked to the rest of the Unified members when it comes to negotiating our contract. We should not have to be satisfied with a Factor 90 retirement age just because the majority of OPS workers don't face the ongoing issues we do. No one should be working in Corrections dealing with 20 something gang bangers into their 60s or even late 50s. It is wrong.
We as a Corrections Division will never reach the pay grade of our Law Enforcement and First Responder brethren while continuing to be linked to the rest of the OPS. There is no comparisons for wage parity between us and the Unified Division, so why if we should be granted a significant pay raise due to our dangerous jobs should everyone get that raise. We are 35% lower then the OPP, when the Shapiro report said we shouldn't be more then $1000 behind them. This is wrong.
We as a Corrections Division need stronger Health and Safety language, better sick program and stronger benefits. All of which we will never achieve if we are tied to the Unified members. Correctional Officers suffer from the highest rate of PTSD in all professions. Higher then combat soldiers, Police, Fire Fighters or Paramedics. Yet our sick program and H&S and benefits are linked to job classifications who would not even register on the PTSD scale. Again its wrong.
I have never once stated I want to leave my Union. I have never once said I wouldn't fight along side the Unified members for a better contract for them. I have never once said all Public Service Employees do not deserve respect or fair contracts. However, I have said and I will always say that Corrections is unique, with our own issues, our own dangers, our own systemic problems. None of which will ever be corrected if we don't bargain on our own within OPSEU for all issues.
So I ask, please, realize that we can't as a Division reach any of these improvements unless we have a Corrections Only Collective Agreement. We can't achieve Corrections Only without making a decision to fight for it. Look at the offer closely, because it is coming soon, and decide, whats important to me, my family and the greater good of the whole Corrections Division. If Unified accepts the offer then obviously they are satisfied with it but that doesn't mean you have to be.
Please......IF IT DOES NOT HAVE CORRECTIONS ONLY COLLECTIVE| AGREEMENT IN IT.......Use your Canadian Rights and ...............................................VOTE NO!!!
Friday, 3 July 2015
Slap in the Face to Ontario Corrections
I've held off writing this for a few reasons. One I wanted to let it actually sink in and convince myself it was true. Second I wanted to give my union, OPSEU, an opportunity to make some sort of statement or move in response.
Well it has sunk in and I convinced myself it was true, then I looked in the mirror and thought to myself, is this really how the Government and OPSEU see me and the job I do. Well my union has yet to make a statement or call the Government out on their position, so as a Local elected leader I feel it is my duty to my members to speak out.
I want to first give some background. Currently the OPS(Ontario Public Service) has been working without a contract for 6 months. That is over 35000 employees of the Ontario Government who are only looking for a fair contract and good faith bargaining. Around 5500 of those members belong to the Corrections Bargaining Unit.
When negotiations stall and bargaining comes to an impasse, according to the Crown Employees Collective Bargaining Act or CECBA (not a four letter word but some treat it like it is), Essential and Emergency Service Agreements (EESAs) must be in place before a No Board can be called. We are divided into Unified and Corrections bargaining units, who bargain separate of each other and then have a Central table that we bargain issues together.
When negotiating EESAs you present your position and the employer presents theirs. In Corrections we have 3 options, one we ask to be deemed completely essential and be All In, two we negotiate partial staffing where only a percentage of us enters the building and works while the rest attempt a strike, or third we refuse to negotiate a shortage of staff and ask the employer to be All Out. The first option is not possible in the current legislation without making changes to CECBA, therefore it would be futile to even ask as our union has very strong feelings against opening CECBA, and would not support this position. The next option to have partial staffing is something every member of Corrections is against. We are already under staffed and face increases in assaults, mental health inmates and over crowding. How would we be able to live with ourselves if we put forward a position that endangers our own Brothers and Sisters.
So that left one option, All Out. With the January 30 Supreme Court decision on the Right to Strike we felt this is the best option. If the Government did not want to bargain fairly, then if we went on strike our position was that we would not work short staffed therefore we should all be out on strike. Especially with no alternate mechanism to solve a bargaining impasse in the current legislation.
Now the Government had their options in response. They could have said, no we realize how important each member of the Corrections Division is and can not continue to ensure our mandate of care, custody and control without you. Then they could have offered us interest arbitration and deemed us 100% Essential. If that wasn't something they wished to do, they also had the option to challenge our position at the Ontario Labour Board stating they felt our institutions could not run without its properly trained staff. Again they did not choose this option.
The option that my employer the Ontario Government chose was to tell me and every other Brother and Sister in Corrections that they were not needed. That anyone can do our jobs. That our work was Non Essential and the number they need to run the jails was ZERO. Wow, I have never been more insulted. Some will say well that is what you asked for, to be All Out. I disagree, we asked to not have staff put in dangerous positions with less trained officers and workers doing the job. The Government had the option as I stated to make the needed change in Corrections and show us respect by making us All In. Instead they chose to slap each and every member in the face.
I am angry, my members are angry, my family and friends are angry, and I sure hope the general public and the media becomes angry. In the past month in Corrections there has been 4 riots, multiple attempted suicides, members I know personally watched an inmate bite out a vein and almost bleed out as they helped, assaults have continued to rise. Now we have a Government so arrogant that they believe we are not needed or we will fold cause we don't want to actually be All Out. I say have at it. I hope all your Managers enjoy dealing with the nightmares and PTSD that my Brothers and Sisters on the front line deal with on a daily basis.
In saying all that, what makes me even more angry, is that after a week of living with these feelings of disrespect and insult, my own union has yet to make a statement. OPSEU has yet to speak with the media and say, our members do a job very few in this world could. Our members do a job not just for the money, cause we are highly under paid comparatively to other Peace Officers, but our members do their job cause they care, because they are professional and its what they signed on to do.
Why OPSEU, why haven't you made this statement? Why are we not just agreeing and giving this Government what they want, while the world watches the Pan Am games, and all the managers are getting ready for their approved vacations, we walk and let them handle the problems we face? Why are we not already 17 days from a legal strike position? We can strike over Corrections issues, we are our own Bargaining unit. We do not need to fight for the central issues, we can fight right now for a fair and proper wage adjustment. That is a Corrections only issue and one we have the right to strike for on our own.
But no instead lets put out an announcement to my members in Table Talk stating we are taking August off so staff can have vacations. Thanks. While members across the province have their vacations revoked. Do what you will to me, I have been elected by my local members to fight for them. With or without you I will continue to fight this Government. Fight for safe workplaces, Fight for proper tools and training, Fight for a fair comparative wage. I will fight for my respect and dignity and the respect and dignity of my Brothers and Sisters. I truly wish that you, as my Union, would join me.
Well it has sunk in and I convinced myself it was true, then I looked in the mirror and thought to myself, is this really how the Government and OPSEU see me and the job I do. Well my union has yet to make a statement or call the Government out on their position, so as a Local elected leader I feel it is my duty to my members to speak out.
I want to first give some background. Currently the OPS(Ontario Public Service) has been working without a contract for 6 months. That is over 35000 employees of the Ontario Government who are only looking for a fair contract and good faith bargaining. Around 5500 of those members belong to the Corrections Bargaining Unit.
When negotiations stall and bargaining comes to an impasse, according to the Crown Employees Collective Bargaining Act or CECBA (not a four letter word but some treat it like it is), Essential and Emergency Service Agreements (EESAs) must be in place before a No Board can be called. We are divided into Unified and Corrections bargaining units, who bargain separate of each other and then have a Central table that we bargain issues together.
When negotiating EESAs you present your position and the employer presents theirs. In Corrections we have 3 options, one we ask to be deemed completely essential and be All In, two we negotiate partial staffing where only a percentage of us enters the building and works while the rest attempt a strike, or third we refuse to negotiate a shortage of staff and ask the employer to be All Out. The first option is not possible in the current legislation without making changes to CECBA, therefore it would be futile to even ask as our union has very strong feelings against opening CECBA, and would not support this position. The next option to have partial staffing is something every member of Corrections is against. We are already under staffed and face increases in assaults, mental health inmates and over crowding. How would we be able to live with ourselves if we put forward a position that endangers our own Brothers and Sisters.
So that left one option, All Out. With the January 30 Supreme Court decision on the Right to Strike we felt this is the best option. If the Government did not want to bargain fairly, then if we went on strike our position was that we would not work short staffed therefore we should all be out on strike. Especially with no alternate mechanism to solve a bargaining impasse in the current legislation.
Now the Government had their options in response. They could have said, no we realize how important each member of the Corrections Division is and can not continue to ensure our mandate of care, custody and control without you. Then they could have offered us interest arbitration and deemed us 100% Essential. If that wasn't something they wished to do, they also had the option to challenge our position at the Ontario Labour Board stating they felt our institutions could not run without its properly trained staff. Again they did not choose this option.
The option that my employer the Ontario Government chose was to tell me and every other Brother and Sister in Corrections that they were not needed. That anyone can do our jobs. That our work was Non Essential and the number they need to run the jails was ZERO. Wow, I have never been more insulted. Some will say well that is what you asked for, to be All Out. I disagree, we asked to not have staff put in dangerous positions with less trained officers and workers doing the job. The Government had the option as I stated to make the needed change in Corrections and show us respect by making us All In. Instead they chose to slap each and every member in the face.
I am angry, my members are angry, my family and friends are angry, and I sure hope the general public and the media becomes angry. In the past month in Corrections there has been 4 riots, multiple attempted suicides, members I know personally watched an inmate bite out a vein and almost bleed out as they helped, assaults have continued to rise. Now we have a Government so arrogant that they believe we are not needed or we will fold cause we don't want to actually be All Out. I say have at it. I hope all your Managers enjoy dealing with the nightmares and PTSD that my Brothers and Sisters on the front line deal with on a daily basis.
In saying all that, what makes me even more angry, is that after a week of living with these feelings of disrespect and insult, my own union has yet to make a statement. OPSEU has yet to speak with the media and say, our members do a job very few in this world could. Our members do a job not just for the money, cause we are highly under paid comparatively to other Peace Officers, but our members do their job cause they care, because they are professional and its what they signed on to do.
Why OPSEU, why haven't you made this statement? Why are we not just agreeing and giving this Government what they want, while the world watches the Pan Am games, and all the managers are getting ready for their approved vacations, we walk and let them handle the problems we face? Why are we not already 17 days from a legal strike position? We can strike over Corrections issues, we are our own Bargaining unit. We do not need to fight for the central issues, we can fight right now for a fair and proper wage adjustment. That is a Corrections only issue and one we have the right to strike for on our own.
But no instead lets put out an announcement to my members in Table Talk stating we are taking August off so staff can have vacations. Thanks. While members across the province have their vacations revoked. Do what you will to me, I have been elected by my local members to fight for them. With or without you I will continue to fight this Government. Fight for safe workplaces, Fight for proper tools and training, Fight for a fair comparative wage. I will fight for my respect and dignity and the respect and dignity of my Brothers and Sisters. I truly wish that you, as my Union, would join me.
Wednesday, 17 June 2015
We Need to Support Ourselves, No on Else Will
Why is it that a Correctional Officer happens to be one of the most disrespected and vilified professions out there? Is it due to the movies, that show us as thugs who do nothing but harass and beat on inmates? Is it shows like OZ, Prison Break, and Orange is the New Black, that show COs as either cheats, deviants, or just down right dumb? I don't think it is any of these. I think it is lack of coverage of the real Heroes and real issues we face and a lack of support from those that should be showing it for us.
I have spoke on lack of coverage before but I need to reiterate it. Without the good stories, where we saved an inmate suicide, or we helped an inmate through his addiction, or we stopped an assault that could have led to death, we will constantly be looked at as the bad guys. As the uncaring over paid baby sitters of the unruly. We need more reporters like Cristina Howorun, who honestly cares enough to fight for what's right. Maybe not always what's popular, but definitely what's right. Who finds her facts and reports on them, not made up issues and falsified stories as Ontario Ombudsman Andre Marin did with his scathing report. We need the public to demand an enquiry into the systemic problems and mismanagement within the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services. If we had all this, maybe the stereotypes that have plagued us through our portrayal in Hollywood wouldn't hurt us so much.
Now onto the problem of lack of support. First I would like to speak on the disrespect this Government in Ontario shows to our front line staff in Corrections. Assaults are at an all time high, inmate counts have sky rocketed, staffing levels have fallen drastically. Yet no one is stepping up and saying lets work on a solution. The Minister has remained quiet on protecting his employees, refusing to include or pass a bill that recognizes Corrections staff as First Responders and PTSD as a workplace illness. He refuses to call or support an enquiry into the problems plaguing Corrections. He refuses to work at implementing solutions front line staff have proposed. He continues to hide behind the fact their is no funding, yet spends 5.8 million on non inmate improvements so managers have more comforts if there is a Labour dispute. I wish every day that a manager or Deputy or Superintendent stepped up and said, these are our employees and I will not stand for them to be treated like this, we need change. I have even thought maybe I could change things more from that side of the Employer/Employee relationship.
Today I am sad to say I thought about it even more. My love for my Corrections Brothers and Sisters and my continued fight for their rights and the rights of the working people will keep me from that step. However the fact your own Union does not throw its support behind you has me wondering if I should stick around. Being told continuously that when I speak my mind and relay issues to our elected leaders, if they are negative or disrespectful to OPSEU they will not be responded to or looked into. When as a Local President, members bring me concerns and issues they have, yet I can not take these issues to my own union in fear of being spoken down to. Why isn't our union pushing the Government on the need for PTSD coverage and First Responder recognition? Why isn't our union putting our dues money towards bringing an enquiry into our problems forward to the public?
The biggest thing though is why will our own Union not recognize the demands and voices of our dues paying membership. My members come to me every day and voice their displeasure. We are asking for Corrections to be given their own Collective Agreement where we bargain all our own issues for ourselves as other law enforcement and Emergency responders do, yet our Union tells us it isn't an option because the Members who it doesn't effect at all said we couldn't. We are asking to be deemed 100% Essential and be provided the option of Binding Interest Arbitration to resolve our bargaining impasse, as the Supreme Court of Canada ruled in January is required, yet our union says, sorry CECBA is good enough and we aren't going to challenge it for just you. We demand that the union become involved in the issues with Ministry of Labour rulings on our Health and Safety, yet the union doesn't because it represents all involved through the OPS.
I am sorry but all those concerns deserve the Unions support as well as the Government. I am tired of being told that we are fighting only the employer when our Union is showing the same disdain for our division. I am also tired of being told that putting info like this out there is hurting the ability to bargain a decent contract. No improvements on the original offer after 7 months and a strong 7 month old Strike vote, makes me think nothing we say now can effect the ability to bargain.
It is time for the Corrections division to realize the only ones that are going to support us is US!! Stand strong together and start making noise. Let not only the Employer know our anger but our Union. For those who disagree with my actions, I would say this, support me and I will support you. The working class is getting stepped on by the rich and everyone throws support to this fight. Well Corrections is literally getting stepped on and assaulted every day, please show us the respect and support us. I hope to never again be told by an elected official of the Union, that he will end his email to me because his Dad taught him if he had nothing good to say about someone SAY NOTHING. I will never stop speaking my mind and a Union who prides itself on supporting and protecting Freedom of Speech should be ashamed to have an elected official attempt to suppress it. I ask is this Leadership or Dictatorship.
One angry Correctional Officer signing off.
Tuesday, 2 June 2015
Not Just About Correctional Officers
In Ontario Corrections it isn't just the Correctional Officers (CO) who face issues, it includes Probation and Parole Officers, Institutional Health Care, Cooks, Records Clerks, Rehabilitation Officers, Classification Officers, and Maintenance staff. We are a big family and those who work beside me are just as important as myself. Each of these areas face their own issues. Issues that are growing and not being taken seriously. My entry today is to speak for them and the issues I know they deal with.
When you work as a Probation and Parole Officer (PPO) your responsibilities have become endless. You've gone to school and earned a degree and are now thrown into the justice system to assist with those offenders who have been released into the public by court ordered probation or parole. You assess risk, meet with those offenders and stay on top of things to make sure all offenders are properly supervised. I know there is way more to it and if you want a more in depth look at it then check out this blog, Probation and Parole Officers.
However this profession certainly has its issues that are being ignored by the Government. The workload has become so horrible there isn't enough time in a day to complete all your work and offenders go longer without assessments. There was a petition read in Queen's Park to cap caseloads and once again this Government ignores it. Health and Safety concerns are a major issue, when a dangerous offender walks into an office or a PPO does a home visit, they are only equipped with a radio and a pen. This is scary. How can an Employer think its alright to put their staff in danger without providing the proper tools and training to assist them. These are just a few of the many issues that face a profession that like Correctional Officers, sometimes gets forgotten in the Justice system. Without the PPOs the public is definitely in more danger.
Now to discuss my Sisters and Brothers who work beside me, delivering medication and providing health care to the inmates inside our Institutions. Picture this, an offender is arrested for violent behaviour he committed while attempting to feed his addiction to meds. Now he is sitting in a nursing office demanding he receive his medication, but the health care staff has to refuse him due to the fact it is an addiction not a need. Do you think that situation can become volatile? It definitely does and I have witnessed offenders becoming very aggressive because of it. Yes a CO is present but not close enough, due to confidentiality, that they would stop an initial attack. This puts our health care staff in many precarious positions. They are also the ones providing health care to those who area assaulted, those who have a medical emergency, those who self harm and all offenders with general illness. Many Institutions do not have a doctor on staff so Nurses are the end of the line health care before an offender needs to be sent out to a hospital. When there is any sort of disturbence and COs are wearing protective non puncture vests, our health care staff are not given the same protection yet are still required to deal with medical issues. How can this not be dealt with by our Government? Putting lives at risk when there are easy fixes is a negligent act that needs to be dealt with. There are many more duties and many more issues that our Institutional Health Care deal with but these are the ones I wanted to discuss. Every nurse that works within the walls of our Provincial Institutions deserves the utmost respect and should be compensated accordingly.
Each and every job classification in our Correctional system is important. If one area has an issue, that can cause repercussions through out the system. Health and Safety of all involved in our Justice system needs to be a priority. One classification should never have more protections then the others. No matter if its the Records clerk filing paperwork or the Maintenance man changing burnt out lightbulbs, the truth is without everyone doing their jobs, with the proper protections, we are all at risk. I just wish the Government gave every individual working in this field the proper training and tools to deliver a safe environment for everyone.
TO ALL THOSE WORKING IN THE CORRECTIONS DIVISION INSIDE THE WALLS OR IN THE COMMUNITY, I SALUTE YOU FOR YOUR BRAVERY AND DEDICATION TO THE JOB!!
When you work as a Probation and Parole Officer (PPO) your responsibilities have become endless. You've gone to school and earned a degree and are now thrown into the justice system to assist with those offenders who have been released into the public by court ordered probation or parole. You assess risk, meet with those offenders and stay on top of things to make sure all offenders are properly supervised. I know there is way more to it and if you want a more in depth look at it then check out this blog, Probation and Parole Officers.
However this profession certainly has its issues that are being ignored by the Government. The workload has become so horrible there isn't enough time in a day to complete all your work and offenders go longer without assessments. There was a petition read in Queen's Park to cap caseloads and once again this Government ignores it. Health and Safety concerns are a major issue, when a dangerous offender walks into an office or a PPO does a home visit, they are only equipped with a radio and a pen. This is scary. How can an Employer think its alright to put their staff in danger without providing the proper tools and training to assist them. These are just a few of the many issues that face a profession that like Correctional Officers, sometimes gets forgotten in the Justice system. Without the PPOs the public is definitely in more danger.
Now to discuss my Sisters and Brothers who work beside me, delivering medication and providing health care to the inmates inside our Institutions. Picture this, an offender is arrested for violent behaviour he committed while attempting to feed his addiction to meds. Now he is sitting in a nursing office demanding he receive his medication, but the health care staff has to refuse him due to the fact it is an addiction not a need. Do you think that situation can become volatile? It definitely does and I have witnessed offenders becoming very aggressive because of it. Yes a CO is present but not close enough, due to confidentiality, that they would stop an initial attack. This puts our health care staff in many precarious positions. They are also the ones providing health care to those who area assaulted, those who have a medical emergency, those who self harm and all offenders with general illness. Many Institutions do not have a doctor on staff so Nurses are the end of the line health care before an offender needs to be sent out to a hospital. When there is any sort of disturbence and COs are wearing protective non puncture vests, our health care staff are not given the same protection yet are still required to deal with medical issues. How can this not be dealt with by our Government? Putting lives at risk when there are easy fixes is a negligent act that needs to be dealt with. There are many more duties and many more issues that our Institutional Health Care deal with but these are the ones I wanted to discuss. Every nurse that works within the walls of our Provincial Institutions deserves the utmost respect and should be compensated accordingly.
Each and every job classification in our Correctional system is important. If one area has an issue, that can cause repercussions through out the system. Health and Safety of all involved in our Justice system needs to be a priority. One classification should never have more protections then the others. No matter if its the Records clerk filing paperwork or the Maintenance man changing burnt out lightbulbs, the truth is without everyone doing their jobs, with the proper protections, we are all at risk. I just wish the Government gave every individual working in this field the proper training and tools to deliver a safe environment for everyone.
TO ALL THOSE WORKING IN THE CORRECTIONS DIVISION INSIDE THE WALLS OR IN THE COMMUNITY, I SALUTE YOU FOR YOUR BRAVERY AND DEDICATION TO THE JOB!!
Thursday, 28 May 2015
Out of Sight, Out of Mind, It has to Change
I show up for my shift. Once again we are short staffed. The count has risen to the point its 1 responding officer per 50 inmates. A code goes off in a range. 3 COs respond to break up an assault in a Range where 20 Offenders are living. We order them into their cells and they don't move, the assault continues. We are mandated to stop the assault. If we don't we could be charged criminally for not saving a life. We go in and put our own lives at risk to save that life. The next day we do it again with no media coverage or accolades.
A Police officer shows up for his shift. Her and her partner head out on shift. They do a routine car stop. They are suspicious so they pull their revolvers and ask the occupant, alone, to exit the vehicle. A search reveals drugs amounting to millions of dollars. The next day front page in the media is this huge drug bust.
I write of this not to say our Brothers and Sisters in the Police forces don't deserve their accolades. They put their lives at risk every day and the fact media and the public attacks them at every wrong decision or poorly publicized event sucks. They deserve to be held up and giving their medals of honour. They save lives and bring down the evils in society.
My point I make is so do we. We save lives. We are First Responders. If a fire breaks out in a prison who is their first to evacuate the people, Us. When an inmate is using a make shift weapon to stab another inmate who is there the stop it and take that inmate down, Us. When an inmate is having a heart attack or a seizure who is the first ones their to provide medical attention, US.
That's right we do all those things and not once do our faces or achievements end up in the media. The only time we ended up in the media was when the Ontario Ombudsman put out a false report about the Excessive Use of Force. Took a miniscule amount of cases, some that have been proven false, and made a mockery out of our profession. Gave the inmates the power.
Inmate on Staff assaults have jumped tremendously since that report. 855 reported attacks in 2013 and that number keeps rising. Yet none of these figures hit main street media. Inmate counts triple over 10 years and yet staffing level have not changed in over 20. We didn't create the short staffing numbers, the Governments 3 year hiring freeze did. We didn't create the jump in Inmate population, the Governments closure of Mental Health facilities and faulty Tough on Crime bill did. Yet we continue to pay the price.
Why are these facts staying out of the media? Because our Governments do not want the general public to know how awful the environment we work in is. They can play on the fact the Public only sees what a jail is like through movies and TV shows like OZ. I think its time the public started getting real info and facts.
We as a profession need to move out of the dark and into the spotlight. We need to voice our accolades and the threats we face. Start writing the papers, start talking to media. Something needs to change before our Brothers and Sisters get killed. Those running the show don't seem to care so let's make the Public care. It won't happen over night but it needs to be a consistent push.
We can do this because we always stand together and have each others backs. Be Strong, Be Solid and fight back.
A Police officer shows up for his shift. Her and her partner head out on shift. They do a routine car stop. They are suspicious so they pull their revolvers and ask the occupant, alone, to exit the vehicle. A search reveals drugs amounting to millions of dollars. The next day front page in the media is this huge drug bust.
I write of this not to say our Brothers and Sisters in the Police forces don't deserve their accolades. They put their lives at risk every day and the fact media and the public attacks them at every wrong decision or poorly publicized event sucks. They deserve to be held up and giving their medals of honour. They save lives and bring down the evils in society.
My point I make is so do we. We save lives. We are First Responders. If a fire breaks out in a prison who is their first to evacuate the people, Us. When an inmate is using a make shift weapon to stab another inmate who is there the stop it and take that inmate down, Us. When an inmate is having a heart attack or a seizure who is the first ones their to provide medical attention, US.
That's right we do all those things and not once do our faces or achievements end up in the media. The only time we ended up in the media was when the Ontario Ombudsman put out a false report about the Excessive Use of Force. Took a miniscule amount of cases, some that have been proven false, and made a mockery out of our profession. Gave the inmates the power.
Inmate on Staff assaults have jumped tremendously since that report. 855 reported attacks in 2013 and that number keeps rising. Yet none of these figures hit main street media. Inmate counts triple over 10 years and yet staffing level have not changed in over 20. We didn't create the short staffing numbers, the Governments 3 year hiring freeze did. We didn't create the jump in Inmate population, the Governments closure of Mental Health facilities and faulty Tough on Crime bill did. Yet we continue to pay the price.
Why are these facts staying out of the media? Because our Governments do not want the general public to know how awful the environment we work in is. They can play on the fact the Public only sees what a jail is like through movies and TV shows like OZ. I think its time the public started getting real info and facts.
We as a profession need to move out of the dark and into the spotlight. We need to voice our accolades and the threats we face. Start writing the papers, start talking to media. Something needs to change before our Brothers and Sisters get killed. Those running the show don't seem to care so let's make the Public care. It won't happen over night but it needs to be a consistent push.
We can do this because we always stand together and have each others backs. Be Strong, Be Solid and fight back.
Monday, 25 May 2015
We are 100% Essential, If Not We are ALL OUT!!
I write this letter as a Correctional Officer (CO) within
Ontario. I feel some knowledge is needed with regards to the Labour dispute our
employer, The Liberals, are about to put us through. When an impasse comes in
the Collective Bargaining process, as it stands now, a strike or lock-out is
called. If that happens our Correctional staff, which consists of all those
that make our Corrections process run, including COs, Probation and Parole officers,
Nurses, Records clerks, Rehab officers, and all others working within the walls
of an institution or office, go out on what is called an Essential Service
strike.
Since we are not deemed 100% Essential like our Law
Enforcement and First Responder brethren, Police, Fire and Paramedics, we still
have to do our job. Around 50 percent of our staff have to enter the walls with
the same amount of inmates to provide the same level of care. That means the
855 assaults we faced in 2013 will have to be dealt with by less staff. That
means the increased assaults by inmates on inmates will have to be broken up by
less staff responding. That means the less staff supervising those inmates out
on probation, the more freedoms and less checks they face.
For a job or service to be deemed Essential it must prevent:
a) danger to health, safety, and life
b) the destruction or serious deterioration of machinery,
equipment or premises,
c) serious environmental damage, or
d) disruption of the
administration of the courts or of legislative drafting
I strongly feel that our work prevents all of those things
to some extent and the threat of health, safety and life to my Brothers and
Sisters, to the inmates and to the public is justification enough for our
profession to earn the designation of 100% Essential.
Please understand that we are not asking for anything more,
then to go to our jobs and protect and maintain order within our workplaces. We
want what the Supreme Court decision on Right to Strike stated, an alternate
mechanism, namely binding arbitration, to solve our collective bargaining
impasse, when we are deemed essential.
This is an attack on public safety and the safety of all
those employed in this profession. I have been very vocal publicly, along with
many leaders and members of our profession, in asking this Government for
recognition. We could use help. Please if you feel our jobs are important
enough that we be deemed 100% Essential alongside the Police, Fire, Paramedics
and Federal Corrections, go to
Sign the petition and let your MPPs know the safety of,
employees, those under our care and custody, and the general public, deserves
to be recognized. No more Strikes, No more working short staffed on purpose,
and No more death and injuries caused that could have been prevented.
If this Government refuses to recognize us as the Emergency
Workers we are, then they should be fine with all those inside the walls being ALL
OUT if a strike occurs.
In Solidarity.
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