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Canada: MTC guards ratify contract.

http://www.simcoe.com/sc/midland/v-scv2print/story/2979217p-3453492c.html
Deal addresses guards' concerns
Kim Goggins, The Mirror
Published: Wednesday, August 17th, 2005

Correctional officers at the Central North Correctional Centre are still on the job after voting 84 per cent in favour of a new, four-year collective agreement on Friday.
According to OPSEU Local 369 bargaining team chairperson, Sean Wilson, the new contract contains "99 per cent" of what the members wanted.
"You're never going to get 100 per cent of the things (you want)," he told The Mirror, just minutes after the votes were tallied. "There are some areas we didn't get exactly the language we wanted, but we got at least something in all of the areas we wanted."
The new contract means parity with their public counterparts and includes: a 12.75-per-cent wage increase over four years; an increase in time off; improvements to the grievance procedures, including an expedited grievance process; and an additional statutory holiday.
"We have an agreement on making sure we have breaks to maintain our sanity in order to work there. Under the Health and Safety Act, we've launched some processes to increase the staffing levels," said Wilson, who couldn't go into further detail.
"Once they enshrine our breaks and stuff in the collective agreement they have no choice but to increase the staffing levels in order to do that."
Local 369 members have been without a contract since Dec. 31, 2004. Negotiations have been ongoing since Jan. 17, 2005. Recent talks broke off in August but both sides returned to the bargaining table on Aug. 8.
"We went back with the attitude that if there was an agreement to be reached we were more than willing to go there," said Wilson. "However, on the other hand, if they were unprepared to bargain with us, we were equally prepared to go on strike for what we believe we deserve."
CNCC management is also pleased with the results.
"We believe this collective agreement continues to recognize the value of our bargaining-unit employees and their contributions to the safety and security of all staff members, our inmates and the general public," said Phill Clough, faculty administrator.
"I was pleased to hear that throughout the negotiations both parties treated one another professionally and worked hard to resolve issues without a work interruption. It is my pleasure to work each day with dedicated professionals."