Correctional Officer Wage Adjustmet Case Studies

First, I would like to say that this case study was provided to our bargaining team in January and was posted in this blog for all to see at the same time.  I was asked by others to remove the post and did so out of respect for their opinions.  

It has recently come to my attention that members are being told that this case study was conducted for a blanket raise across all classifications.  As you can see by reading this document, reposted in it's entirety below with it's original content, the arguments made are for a correctional officer wage adjustment only. 

I would also like to point out that all data contained in this case study was readily available on the Internet, anyone could have completed the same research on either side of the bargaining table to draw their own conclusions. 

Correctional Officer Wage Adjustment Case Studies

January 15, 2016

Preamble

This paper is being completed as an argument to use at Arbitration for Corrections Division with Arbitrator Kevin Burkett. The cases put forward below are for the classification of Correctional Officer (CO) within the Corrections division of the OPS. The information used within this paper is verified through Provincial contacts, Collective Agreements and recruiting sites. Each case will consist of its own arguments towards a fair and proper wage adjustment for Correctional Officers. In conclusion all cases will be brought together to show a final analysis and position of the author. Here is a table that will include all data being used for the case studies.

	Corrections	Police	Fire
Ontario/Toronto	$67,891	$98,776(OPP) $98,779(Tor)	$98,779
Federal	$74,796	$82,108(RCMP)	N/A
Manitoba/Winnipeg	$74,504	$94,029	$88,011
Alberta/Calgary	$70,054	$91,391	$85,841

*all rates are top rates for their respective positions

The information above is reflective across Canada. The use of Manitoba, being our closest neighbour, and Alberta, being our closest counterpart in economic size, provides a fair assessment. With the inclusion of the Federal counterparts in each category gives us another analysis to the difference in salary levels in comparable jobs.

Going forward, this paper will compare apples to apples, by only comparing wage levels of each profession to each other. It is a fair assessment, that in our own Emergency Service positions we apply the same duties and responsibilities across the board. 

Case Study #1

As you can see above Ontario is the highest paid Province in Canada for Police Services and Fire Services. Emergency workers throughout Ontario see the highest wages when compared across the country. Correctional Officers are the exception to the rule. The Ontario Liberals have gone on record after the settlement of our Collective Agreement to state they recognize us as an Essential Service. We are currently working towards the same recognition on Bill 2 in Ontario to recognize Correctional workers as First Responders.

Ontario can show the ability to pay the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) the highest wages in Canada. Municipalities in Ontario are paying the highest rates in Canada for Police and Fire services. Correctional Officers should see the same treatment. Ontario COs lag behind the rest of the country. Based on the numbers in the above table we are 9% lower than Manitoba. Ontario should provide their Correctional Officers the same benefit they provide their other emergency service workers and make us the highest paid in Canada.

Case Study #2

Taking into account the similarities of the job, an OPP officer has similar duties and responsibilities as an RCMP officer. However the wage disparity between the two forces is dramatic. OPP top rate is $98,776, while an RCMP top rate is $82,108. That is a 17% difference.

Taking into account Federal Corrections has long term offenders who are serving sentences over 2 years, and Provincial Corrections has short term offenders serving less the 2 years or remanded on their charges, the mandate of care, custody and control remains the same for both. Arguments can be made that Provincial Corrections receive the offenders right off the street, while Federal system receives them after they have rehabilitated in the Provincial system for a time being. Both systems have their dangers and both have many similarities. Then why is it that Federal Corrections top rate is $74,796 while Ontario is $67,891? That is a 9% difference.

Basing the argument that if Ontario pays the OPP 17% more the federal RCMP, why is Ontario paying its Correctional Officers 9% less than their Federal counterparts? If you used the exact 17% difference, there is argument that Ontario Corrections should be paid 17% more than their counterparts which would place the top rate wage of an Ontario CO at $87,511.

Case Study #3

This study is based strictly on comparisons between municipal Police services. Taking into account Police duties and responsibilities are comparable across the country, I will show the difference in top rate between a Toronto officer and an officer in both Winnipeg and Calgary.

Using the top rate salaries in the table, we see that a Toronto officer makes 7.5% more than a Calgary officer and 5% more than a Winnipeg Officer. Once again this shows the ability of Ontario to pay their emergency services higher than the rest of the country.

When it comes to comparing CO top rate, Ontario lags 3% below Alberta and 9% below Manitoba. Basing pay increases on the differences in the Police services, one can argue Ontario should see a wage 7.5% greater than Alberta or $75,308, or 5% more than in Manitoba or $78,229. By comparing like professions and ability to pay we can see that Ontario Corrections deserves a significant wage increase.

Case Study #4

This study is based strictly on comparisons between municipal Fire services. Taking into account Fire duties and responsibilities are comparable across the country we will show the difference between a Toronto Fire Fighter and a Fire Fighter in both Winnipeg and Calgary.

Using the top rate salaries in the table, we see that Toronto Fire makes 13% more than Calgary Fire and 11% more than Winnipeg Fire. This shows the ability of Ontario to pay their emergency services higher than the rest of the country.

When it comes to comparing CO pay rate, as we seen in the above case, Ontario lags 3% below Alberta and 9% below Manitoba. Basing pay increases on differences shown in the Fire services, one can argue Ontario should see a wage 13% greater than Alberta or $79,161 or 11% more than in Manitoba or $82,699. Again comparing like professions and ability to pay, we can see that Ontario Corrections deserves a significant wage increase.

Case Study #5

Now to bring the numbers together, we will take the average top rate for Police and Fire in each jurisdiction and compare the difference across each. So below is the average Police/Fire top rate:

·         Ontario = $98,779

·         Alberta = $88,616

·         Manitoba = $91,020

Using the above numbers you see Ontario is once again ahead; 10% compared to Alberta and 8% compared to Manitoba.

Taking those percentages it would place Ontario Corrections at $77,059 compared to Alberta or $80,464 compared to Manitoba. Once again this shows the amount Ontario Correctional Officers are behind.

Case Study #6

The final study is simply taking the above average wage of Police and Fire and showing the difference within that Province to Corrections.

·         Alberta: Police/Fire earn 21% more than Corrections

·         Manitoba: Police/Fire earn 18% more than Corrections

In Ontario Police/Fire earn an astounding 31% more than Corrections. When taking into consideration the 1979 Shapiro report, that stated Correctional Officers should always be within $1000 of an OPP 1^st class Constable, it is damaging to the profession to have COs so far behind.

If you were to take 19.5%, being the average between the Alberta and Manitoba differences, and ensured Ontario was that distance away from Ontario Police/Fire it would put CO2 top rate at $79,517.

Conclusion

As one can see Ontario has continuously under paid their Correctional Officers. There has been 0% increases for 2013, 2014, 2015. Before that the small increases were paid for by lose of shift premiums or other concessions. Corrections in Ontario has not seen a true wage increase for over 5 years. As the numbers show, the pay rate has suffered drastically. We currently have a crisis in corrections, one that has a lack of staffing at the forefront. There is not an influx of new hires coming in. The Government states the numbers that they have hired but refuse to comment on the numbers who have left their positions in the same timeframe. We are currently short staffed by 1000 officers in Ontario and with the baby boom generation continuing to retire this means more than 30% of our staff will be retiring in the next 3 years. To be able to hire quality staff and ensure the retention of experienced staff we need a wage increase now.

Taking all the final wages for Ontario Correctional Officers throughout this paper, (87511+75308+78229+79161+82699+77059+80464+79517) and averaging them, we come to a final fair wage of $79,993. Including a retention bonus, along the lines of the OPP, would also go a long way to retain more quality staff.

Taking all the above, along with the Special Wage Cases presented comparing Correctional Officers to Court Officers and Special Constables within Ontario, I feel a 5% bi-annual raise for the 2 remaining years would be fair.

Jan 1, 2016          5%

July 1, 2016         5%

Jan 1, 2017          5%

July 1, 2017         5%

Thank you Mr. Burkett for considering these Wage Adjustment Case Studies. We look forward to your fair ruling on this matter.

Respectfully Submitted,

James Nowe

CO Kenora Jail

President OPSEU Local 719