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OPS Table Talk 2015 Issue 39 – Union meets employer December 18

Employer representatives have agreed to a request from your Corrections bargaining team to return to the bargaining table. The next meeting will take place on Friday, December 18, assisted by the conciliator. Talks will continue on December 19, if needed.

Your team had sought an earlier date. However, no other conciliator was available before December 18. This was the earliest possible date for conciliation.

This week, 67 per cent of Corrections members rejected the recent tentative agreement. By doing so, they changed the entire context for these talks. It should now be clear to the employer that the crisis in Corrections cannot be ignored. The bargaining priorities of correctional staff must be addressed in a meaningful way. Otherwise, Ontario is heading for a major labour disruption.

Your team will make it clear to the employer that failure to bargain in good faith will have consequences. If there is no progress on our issues, we will be asking the Ministry of Labour for a “no board” report. The ministry can take up to five business days to issue a “no board.” The 17th day after the report is issued puts the parties in a legal strike or lockout position.

To be clear: if conciliation fails on December 18, we expect to be in a legal strike or lockout position roughly a month later.

All-presidents’ meeting set for December 17

Corrections presidents and highest-ranking Corrections members from locals across Ontario will meet in Toronto on Thursday, December 17 from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at a location to be confirmed. The purpose of the meeting is twofold: to share information and to confirm plans to mobilize Corrections members to win the collective agreement we need.

Local presidents and highest-ranking Corrections members, please stand by for details.

Download Table Talk 39

Related: OPS Bargaining 2014 Index Page