OPSEU
correctional
workers ink
deal with
province
TORONTO — Ontario's jail
workers inked a deal with the
province and averted a strike.
On Jan. 9, the Ontario Pub-
lic Service Employees Union
(OPSEU), which represents
about 6,000 correctional work-
ers, reached a deal around 4
a.m., following a marathon bar-
gaining session with the gov-
ernment.
As part of the new agree-
ment, wage increases will be
determined by arbitration, in the
same manner as police services
or other essential service staff.
Any disputes would also be
settled by third-party arbitra-
tion, revoking employees' right
to strike, which was something
of a victory for the union.
"This deal satisfies the strong
desire of our members to have
their wages set at arbitration,"
said Tom O'Neill, chair of
OPSEU's correctional bargain-
ing unit.
"Front-line correctional staff
are first responders who deal
with violence, trauma and trag-
edy in the normal course of our
work, and we intend to be rec-
ognized for the vital service we
provide in keeping Ontarians
safe."
Despite the improvements,
OPSEU said more work needs
to be done concerning staffing
levels and employee safety in the
province's jails.
Challenging
labour
relations to
continue in
2016: Report
OTTAWA — Another year of
modest economic growth is ex-
pected to challenge the labour
relations environment in 2016,
according to the Conference-
Board of Canada's Industrial Re-
lations Outlook 2016.
The report predicts the public
sector in particular will be con-
strained by an ongoing emphasis
on fiscal restraint.
"Increased economic uncer-
tainty, along with changes in
technology and operating envi-
ronments in the last few years,
have made it difficult for unions
and management to develop and
maintain stable relationships,"
said Lynn Stoudt, vice-president
of leadership and HR research
for the Conference Board.
"Faced with uncertainty due
to a low-growth economy, both
unions and management will
likely tread carefully and focus
on relationship-building."
Age will also be an issue as
unions attempt to strengthen re-
lationships, said the report, and
an aging workforce is causing a
shift in priorities for both em-
ployers and labour.
Unions will need to engage the
younger generation in order to
meet succession planning needs.
The Conference Board predict-
ed this will lead to the priorities
of millennial workers driving
demands at the bargaining table
in 2016. It anticipates a greater
focus on issues of flexibility and
work-life balance can be expect-
ed in the coming months.
LABOUR BRIEFS
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LABOUR LENS
Last week, U.S. Supreme Court justices began hearing arguments for a case brought forth by California
teachers looking at whether mandatory union dues infringe upon individual constitutional freedoms.
Photo:
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Ernst
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