President's meeting, Doubletree Hilton, Toronto, Ont. January 19, 2009- Hug a correction
officer today!
Hello all,
Just an update on the meeting I attended last Saturday to get informed on the contract
offer we will be voting on Jan 28th, 29th at the regional office.
First of all , it is absolutely vital that everyone vote.
It is vital that you continue to show support for your bargaining team. One of the main reasons
the bargaining team was able to get the deal they did in such a timely fashion was the support shown by the membership, it
was noted and mentioned by the management team at the bargaining table.
The government is attempting , through the corrections bargaining, to take away some very important
benefits-namely the sick benefit.
Thus it is essential that we present a strong, united front to management that we are
interested and supportive of our executive's efforts on our behalf. They will be watching to see what the turnout is for ratification
of our deal. A strong showing could influence the way will deal with the corrections people moving forward.
Understandably, people are wondering why we are settling while correction, probation and parole
and youth workers are still thrashing it out with the government.
This is where the "hug a crrections officer "part comes in.
The bargaining team for corrections has decided to take one for the entire team-BIG TIME!
The government has decided to try and take away the sick time program from corrections. This is
huge for all of us. You can bet if they are successful here, they will try and do it to all of us in the next round of bargaining.
Corrections decided because they are only going after them, they would let the Central Bargaining
Team settle for the rest of us, so we wouldn't have to strike, and fight this fight on their own!
This why it is so important to show support for the bargaining teams-still!. The corrections people
will need every bit of support we can give them.
A few word about the sick time issue with corrections: first of all the figure of an average of
30+ days mentioned in the auditor genera's report is totally inaccurate. This is because CO's work 12 hour days and they count
a 12 hour shift taken as sick time as 2 days. If a CO leaves their shift early, it is counted as a full sick day. Thus,
the actual figure is more like 20 days average per year.
I think we would all agree the CO"S have some very unique, stressful working conditions. The jails
they work in are extemely overcrowded. They are sometimes working with only 2 CO's to 70 inmates. They are on a 24 hour rotation
dealing with the most difficult and dangerous elements of society. Inmates are living in substandard conditions with little
in the way of recreation, library and education facilities to help alleviate boredom, stress and help in their rehabilitation.
It is not surprising that CO"S would have a higher than average threshold for sick time.
The really frustrating part of this for the CO"s is they have offered some practical, workable
solutions to deal with the sick time issue. Management has chosen to ignore these suggestions and just try and "solve" the
problem by taking away the sick time program.
The jist of the proposal by management is they want to contract out the sick time benefit to a private
insurance company. We all know how they work. You basically would only accumalate sick benefits at the rate of
5 hours /month-but only if you work every day of the month!.After your possible 4 days fully paid sick time you would go to
66.66% of your pay-IF the insurance company approves it.. There are many other scary details which can be viewed on the OPSEU
website.
The point is, we must support corrections in this fight-get out and vote, e-mail the premier,
your MPP, the Minsiter of Corrections, write letters to the editor and get family and friends on board with this initiative.
The government's "solution" to the problem of sick time is not a solution at all. It is an insult
and a denial of the issues that exist in this job and an abrogation of their responsibility and obligation to provide
a healthy and safe workplace.
So continue to show soldiarity, get out and vote and thank a corrections officer today for the sacrifice
they are about to make.
In solidarity
Maureen
