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.