We Need to Stand Up To This Abuser

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!!