On Tuesday, March 27, your bargaining team and mobilizers will be at Queen’s Park, along with other members of our division, to continue lobbying MPPs and bring attention to our urgent needs.
Click here to download LockTalk, Issue 14
First Vice-President/Treasurer and bargaining team chair to hold news conference
At 10 a.m. on the same day, a news conference, sponsored by MPP Taras Natyshak, will be held at Queen’s Park to share many of the vital pieces of information that are essential to true corrections reform. First Vice-President/Treasurer Eddy Almeida and the chair of your bargaining team, Chris Jackel, will host the media event in the media studio.
Bargaining: all talk, no action from the government
We continually hear from the Wynne government about what they claim to be doing to transform Ontario’s correctional system. But it’s a different story at the bargaining table, where we have seen nothing of substance so far.
As we wrap up this week of bargaining, we have reviewed all of our non-monetary demands and come to the conclusion that the Liberal government isn’t very interested in bargaining, contrary to what they had indicated in their opening statement. For example, the employer made a proposal on compensating time off (CTO) on December 17, 2017. This proposal included concessions we were not prepared to accept.
We provided several counter-proposals on CTO, with the last made on February 7. We have yet to receive a response.
The government’s lack of enthusiasm is not limited to this issue. This is not to say we have not made some progress. However, we are not where we feel we should be at this time.
During bargaining, the government has not appeared to appreciate labour peace as much as we would have hoped and expected in this new era of ‘transformation’. Questions continue to arise regarding the use of mobilization efforts, as in years past. We are fully aware of these options and have not discounted their significance.
You have our commitment
Thank you for your continued support. We remain committed to representing the needs of all members across the province as we bargain a fair, well-deserved and historic corrections collective agreement.
In solidarity,
Your Correctional bargaining team