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March 31, 2004

MERC Agreements help preserve Job Security and Job Mobility

Announcements by the government late last year regarding the transfer of Youth Justice Services from the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services (MCSCS) to the Ministry of Children and Youth Services (MCYS) raised many concerns amongst our members who were to be directly affected by the transfer. Uncertainty about the direction in which MCYS might go and much reduced job security and job mobility for members transferred to MCYS were two issues raised by members and local executives. Unable to get clear answers to enquiries about the future direction of MCYS, the Corrections MERC team initiated negotiations with the employer to address the job security and job mobility issues.

The negotiations have resulted in a number of agreements that received final corporate sign-off on March 30, 2004. The agreements cover both the Community and the Institutional parts of MCSCS and the positions transferred to MCYS as well as the individuals who are being transferred to MCYS from MCSCS. The agreements cover the period from Apr. 1, 2004 until Dec. 31, 2007 and may be extended by mutual agreement.

Four areas covered by the agreements are Lateral Transfers, Job Trades, Redeployment and Voluntary Exits. For the time period of the agreements, the individuals and positions from MCSCS which have been transferred to MCYS and the positions and individuals who remain in MCSCS shall be considered to be within the same ministry for the purposes of the four areas.

An example of what this means is as follows:

A Correctional Officer at Brookside YC is currently on the lateral transfer list for Maplehurst Complex. As of Apr. 1, 2004 all employees at Brookside YC are being transferred by the employer to the new Children and Youth Services Ministry. The individual will still be eligible to transfer to Maplehurst Complex for the time period of the agreement even though that person has changed ministries. The same situation would apply in reverse.

"We know that it is tough for our members being transferred by the employer to MCYS without them having any assurances where things are headed," says Barry Scanlon, Corrections MERC chair, "We have been able to negotiate a period of nearly four years during which individuals will be able to see which direction the MCYS is headed. At the same time, members will retain the options and choices they had prior to the transfer."

Another example is as follows:

A former Phase 1 Probation Officer who works in Hamilton and who has been transferred by the employer to the new Children and Youth Services Ministry on Apr. 1, 2004 has applied for a job trade to the Mississauga Probation and Parole Office (MCSCS). Up until Dec. 31, 2007, if a PPO at the Mississauga P&P Office were to apply for a job trade to the MCYS Probation Office in Hamilton, then the job trade could be matched.

"These agreements apply to POs, PPOs and all support staff," says Gord Longhi, Corrections MERC team member, "It is important that our members continue to have their right to job security and job mobility protected."

These are two examples of what can occur under these agreements. Further details and information regarding these agreements will be available in the very near future.

To download the agreements, go to: http://www.opseu.org/ops/ministry/locktalk/youthjustice_2004agreements.pdf  

Corrections to meet at Convention

Each year, delegates, alternates and observers from the Corrections Division meet at the OPSEU Convention to discuss what is happening across the province.

This year is no exception. The Corrections Caucus will be held on Friday, Apr. 16 at 12 noon in Conference Rooms "B" and "C".

See you there!

Original authorized for distribution by Leah Casselman, president.

For more information, call Don Ford (ext. 442) at 1-800-268-7376 or (416) 443-8888.
e-mail: dford@opseu.org

Ontario Public Service Employees Union, 100 Lesmill Rd. Toronto, ON M3B 3P8  (416) 443-8888  www.opseu.org