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Update from the bargaining table
Your Bargaining Team met with the Employer on May 22, 2025 — our first monetary discussion since submitting our fulsome proposal in December 2024.
The Employer’s position did not fully address our proposals, resulting in mixed progress. They offered a handful of meager benefit improvements, which are woefully inadequate. Their proposals lacked an understanding of the specific needs of the members in the Correctional Bargaining Unit and offered no meaningful improvements to address the mental health crisis in Corrections.
In response, the bargaining team presented a comprehensive overview of the crisis impacting members, to clearly outline to the Employer the critical situation.
We are exposed daily to traumatic incidents, chronic understaffing, overcrowding, increased violence and high-stress environments. Further, over two assaults happen per day across correctional institutions, and the rates of violence toward staff have dramatically increased over the last several years. These conditions make robust mental health supports indispensable in the Correctional Bargaining Unit.
It is imperative that our mental health benefit package come in line with other first responders across Ontario and Canada.
To bring our point home, the bargaining team dropped legislative petitions signed by over 8,000 Corrections workers their families and supporters on the bargaining table in front of the Employer.
With the resounding thud of the 8,000 signatures hitting the table, we sent the Employer away to get a stronger mandate to meet the unique needs of the Correctional Bargaining Unit.
Thank you to all members and supporters who took the time to sign the petition and bring them to family and friends, and to our mobilizers for their hard work in leading the signing drive for these petitions.
Upcoming bargaining dates
We have secured bargaining sessions with the Employer on June 23 and 24, 2025.
In these meetings, we will continue to build on our groundwork, address outstanding issues in depth, and demand meaningful progress toward securing the compensation, benefits and supports our members deserve.
Reminder: Health Care Spending Account
If you are a full-time or regular part-time member, remember that you have access to a $300 annual Health Care Spending Account (HCSA). Unused HCSA balances have limited carryover: you may only hold the current year’s funds plus the previous year’s balance at any time. This HCSA can be used for a wide variety of expenses allowable under the Income Tax Act, including to top-up out of pocket costs, not covered fully by Manulife or Canada Life.
Find out more: Read the Fact Sheet
Remember: LockTalk is your only official source of accurate bargaining information.
If you have questions, please contact the bargaining team at [email protected].
In solidarity,
Janet Laverty, Chair, Correctional Bargaining Team
Adam Cygler, Vice-Chair, Correctional Bargaining Team