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!!!