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.