“Surplus Factor 80” provision approved by Plan’s sponsors

Toronto (August 14, 2009) – OPSEU and the Government of Ontario have approved an amendment to the OPSEU Pension Plan extending the temporary “Surplus Factor 80” option for eligible members in the Ontario Public Service (OPS).

Surplus Factor 80 is an early retirement option that is available to eligible plan members who are permanently laid off. The provision allows affected members to qualify for an unreduced OPTrust pension if their age plus their credit in the Plan total 80 years or more by the time they leave their employment.

The plan amendment also enables employers and bargaining agents outside the OPS to negotiate agreements to provide a Surplus Factor 80 option to members in other bargaining units.

Surplus Factor 80 in the OPS
If you work in the OPS, you may qualify for the new Surplus Factor 80 provision, if:

* you are a member of the Plan and are covered by the Central Collective Agreement
* you receive a notice of layoff under the collective agreement before January 1, 2013, and
* your age plus your credit in the Plan equal 80 years or more before January 1, 2013, and on the date your employment ends.

The new Surplus Factor 80 reflects changes in the OPS collective agreement ratified by OPSEU and the Government of Ontario in early 2009. The provision applies retroactively to eligible members who received a notice of layoff before February 26, 2009.

For members who receive a layoff notice after February 25, 2009, there is one additional eligibility requirement. For these members to qualify, the employer must provide OPTrust with confirmation that the layoff is consistent with the new OPS collective agreement. Under Appendix 17 of the collective agreement, a laid-off member is eligible for Surplus Factor 80 only if the available options for reassignment or redeployment to a permanent vacancy have been exhausted.

The additional cost to the Plan for the extended Surplus Factor 80 provision will be paid by the Government of Ontario.

Surplus Factor 80 in non-OPS bargaining units
For members of other bargaining units, employers and OPSEU may negotiate an agreement to provide access to the Surplus Factor 80 option or other similar provisions. In these cases, the parties must notify OPTrust of the terms of any such agreement.

Pension bridging
Plan members who receive a notice of layoff may also be able to “bridge” to an unreduced pension.

Like the Surplus Factor 80, bridging requires special provisions in your collective agreement. These provisions allow laid-off members to use leaves of absence, the surplus notice period and the period represented by their severance payments to reach their eligibility date for an unreduced pension.

Eligible members can use bridging to qualify for a pension under the Plan’s Factor 90 (age + credit = 90 years) or 60/20 (age 60, 20 years of credit) early retirement options. Where the necessary agreements are in place, bridging can also be used to qualify for a pension under Surplus Factor 80.

Eligible members in the OPS can use bridging to qualify for Surplus Factor 80 as well as Factor 90 and 60/20.

For more information
If you receive a notice of layoff and think you may be eligible for Surplus Factor 80 or pension bridging, please contact your human resources representative and OPTrust for more information.

* Contact OPTrust Member and Pensioner Services

FIFA WORLD CUP

Brazil Beats Egypt 4:3

Way to go Brazil !!!!!!!!!!!!!


Last-gasp Kaka sinks brave Egypt

A last-gasp Kaka penalty snatched Brazil a 4-3 victory over a courageous Egypt in an exhilarating Group B opener at Free State Stadium. Dunga's side carried a two-goal cushion in at the break, but a quick-fire double had the Pharaohs level until the former FIFA World Player's second goal of the game injury time.

It took Brazil just five minutes to break the deadlock. There appeared to be little danger when Daniel Alves's dink found Kaka inside a congested penalty area, but the No10 subtly tricked his way past two opponents before casually sliding the ball home.

Egypt responded swiftly, with Mohamed Aboutrika's right-wing cross being headed in by Mohamed Zidan, but they fell behind again on 12 minutes, when Luis Fabiano's head guided an Elano free-kick into the bottom corner of the net.

Elano and Juan both came close to doubling A Seleção's lead, before the latter did just that by heading home the former's corner in the 37th minute.

Egypt refused to submit to their more illustrious opponents, though, and scored twice in two minutes to restore parity, Mohamed Shawky's firm, low drive from the edge of the box preceding a 55th-minute strike from Zidan.

Both sides then had their chances, but the game appeared destined for a 3-3 draw. That was until goal-bound Lucio effort was handled on the line by Ahmed Al Muhamadi. The Egypitan defender was sent off, and Kaka coolly passed the ball into the bottom corner of Essam El Hadary's net to ensure Dunga's side made a wininng start to the defence of their crown.

NDC LOCAL OHS Meeting 17 June 2009


Greetings all:

Here is my first attempt again at communication.

On Friday 19th June 2009 from 0700-1100 hours at the Niagara Detention Centre, the Local OHSC will be meeting.

I am formally requesting that any/all topics that need to be brought forward to the committee be submitted by Wednesday 17th June 2009 at 2100 hours to allow the worker representatives to review this information and/or concerns.

Thank you.

Freddy Sidler

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 27, 2009


OPSEU to McGuinty: Stop destroying Corrections


OTTAWA – Corrections members from across Ontario will converge in Ottawa tomorrow at a Liberal fundraiser to protest recent actions and inactions by the McGuinty government that are destroying labour relations in Correctional Services.

DATE: May 28, 2009

TIME: 4:30 p.m.

LOCATION: Ontario Liberal Fundraiser
Crown Plaza
101 Lyon Street, Ottawa


OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas wants the Premier to immediately intercede to come up with a joint plan to deal with overcrowding, safety and issues affecting the health of the staff on the front lines. “Representatives in the Corrections Ministry appear to have little interest in addressing the concerns of the people who actually run Corrections on a day-to-day basis. We want to work co-operatively and come up with solutions to the current problems.”

OPSEU Corrections Division Chair Eddy Almeida says that the situation in Ontario corrections is reaching a breaking point with respect to conditions.

“For years, the Ministry has been packing more and more inmates into too little space, and expecting the staff to cope with the extra work it takes to deal with this,” Almeida said. “Further, they have been enacting policies aimed at making it harder for staff to get time away from this stressful environment. This has to stop, and the Premier must take the lead.”


-30-

For further information:
Don Ford, OPSEU Communications 416-788-9104

MOL order Tuesday 19th May 2009

ALL Staff:

Please ensure you read the Ministry of Labor order posted. Due to the sensitive nature this and like documents will not be publicly available. If you are a Confirmed Executive Member of another local please submit a request. Upon confirmation a copy may be sent to you.

Detention centre outbreak affects 60 inmates and staff

Posted By KARENA WALTER Karena Walter

Posted 5 days ago

Visiting hours are suspended and in-person court appearances cancelled as officials deal with an outbreak of illness at Niagara Detention Centre that’s affected a quarter of its population.

More than 60 inmates and a handful of staff have complained of symptoms of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea from the illness, which has yet to be identified.

Dr. Doug Sider, Niagara’s associate medical officer of health, said it’s suspected to be the norovirus, which is highly infectious and can spread easily in close confines.

The public health department hopes to have confirmation today or Friday.

The norovirus has given Niagara a challenging season so far, Sider said, affecting people in nursing homes and day-care centres.

But it’s more difficult to control a virus in a detention centre where people are sharing cells and isolation may be hard to achieve.

Sider said key steps in other settings are emphasizing hand hygiene, doing scrupulous cleaning of common surfaces and disinfecting bathrooms and common areas.

“Most importantly, you need to be able to isolate ill people and try as much as possible to make sure they’re not in direct contact with people who don’t have the infection,” Sider said.

“I can imagine it’s somewhat challenging to do in an environment such as a detention centre.”

Stuart McGetrick, spokesman for the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, said the illness spread through the institution. It seemed to subsiding by Wednesday, when only 10 people were complaining of symptoms.

The centre has no space for isolating large numbers of people, but has taken steps to stop the spread, he said.

They have stopped moving inmates between units and suspended visits. In-person court appearances have been replaced by video links.

“We’re just taking precautions to limit the spread of this bug, to let it run its course as quickly as possible,” McGetrick said.

The public health department was called on Monday to work with the detention centre on prevention and control measures.

On Saturday, the jail had a six-hour standoff sparked by prisoners demanding another inmate be taken to hospital for flu-like symptoms. Health-care staff at the facility examined the inmate and decided outside medical attention wasn’t needed.

Sider said symptoms of the norovirus — if that is what it is — can last 24 hours to several days. He said an outbreak can last from a few days up to two weeks.

The virus is not usually associated with complications. It’s treated with lots of fluids and careful diet.

The outbreak was affecting proceedings at the St. Catharines courthouse Wednesday. When lawyer Donald Wolfe asked in morning video court that his client be brought in person to the courthouse for a bail hearing, he was told it wasn’t going to happen.

“Apparently, no prisoners are allowed to leave the detention centre at this moment,” justice of the peace Robert Leggate told him.

Another lawyer, Geoffrey Hadfield, assured his client by video that delays in his case were out of his hands.

“The place is shut down for three days because of illness, not because of me.”

Article ID# 1506125

Public not at risk during jail riot: NRP

Lockdown quelled outburst


The public was never in any danger when inmates at the Niagara Detention Centre in Thorold rioted on the weekend, forcing a lockdown of part of the jail, Niagara Regional Police said.
Police said an undisclosed number of inmates housed in the jail, which the Ontario Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services said has a capacity of 260 inmates, created a disturbance in the ground floor day room range area starting at about 11:20 a.m. Saturday. Corrections staff responded by locking down the area, containing the disturbance.
NRP officers responded as a precautionary measure and remained outside of the jail. A CTV news video showed heavily armed police officers, some wearing army-type helmets and bullet-proof vests, setting up a perimeter at the jail.
A negotiator was called in by the detention centre. While negotiations dragged on, though, some inmates began to make weapons from items in the area, police said.
Nearly five hours after the standoff began, corrections officers re-entered the area and broke up the impasse. Although there were no injuries reported, police said the inmates caused about $2,000 in damages.
"The Niagara Regional Police and Niagara Detention Centre would like to assure the public that this incident posed no danger to the general public at anytime," police said in a news release.
An investigation into the disturbance is continuing by NRP detectives.

Niagara this week

Five hour standoff at Thorold Detention Centre


Posted By DON FRASER

Updated 45 mins ago

A standoff between guards and 17 inmates lasted almost five hours at the Niagara Detention Centre in Thorold.
Niagara Regional Police say the situation started at 11:20 a.m. Saturday in the ground floor day room range area.
Corrections staff kept the disturbance to this area. The NRP responded as a precautionary measure and acted as support outside the facility.
A corrections negotiator was used to deal with the situation. The inmates demanded some concessions during negotiations, but police did not reveal any details.
Some inmates also began to make weapons from materials available at the scene.
At 4:10 p.m., corrections staff entered the area and secured the involved inmates without incident.
Police say no corrections staff or inmates were injured during this disturbance. About $2000 in damages was caused to the facility by inmates.
Police and the detention centre say the public was never at risk.
The NRP continues to investigate

-with files from the Canadian Press

http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1500830


ctvtoronto.ca

A riot involving 17 inmates has ended at Niagara Detention Centre late Saturday afternoon.
Police offered few details on the riot, but they did confirm that the inmates were wearing masks and did have control of a portion of the facility.
There is no word on what sparked the riot, nor if any injuries occurred.
According to the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services website, the facility has a capacity of 260 inmates.

With files from CTV Toronto

NDC RALLEY- No Justice No Peace

Corrections officers protest in Thorold

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Corrections officers protest in Thorold

JAIL GUARDS' CONTRACT EXPIRES AT END OF YEAR

Posted By SAMANTHA CRAGGS, SUN MEDIA

Corrections officers have hit the streets in their bid for a new contract.

More than 100 workers from Ontario's 32 jails gathered outside Niagara Detention Centre in Thorold Thursday to protest what they say is the government's inaction in negotiating an agreement. The current contract for more than 40,000 Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) workers, including about 8,000 corrections officers, expires Dec. 31.

The workers held an information picket, chanting, "We want a contract, we want it now." They waved signs reading, "My job, your services, our communities" and, "All I want for Christmas is a fair contract."

The provincial side of the negotiations is handled by the Ministry of Government Services, which represents various ministries in the talks.
"We're here saying, 'Bargain with us,'" said Dan Sidsworth, a member of OPSEU's provincial employee relations committee and a Milton corrections officer.

A main issue for corrections workers is the overuse of "unclassified" officers, who often work full-time hours but are considered part time by the province, said John Mengia, president of OPSEU Niagara Detention Centre local 252. There are about 1,100 officers in Ontario who do not get benefits and are called at early-morning hours to go to work, he said. Some are considered "unclassified" after 15 years.

"I was unclassified for nine years," said 19-year veteran Carol Sousa, also local unit vice-president. "I was a single parent getting 5 a. m. phone calls and trying to arrange for a babysitter."

The province has committed more police officers for Ontario's streets, yet has not boosted the full-time complement of corrections officers to match it, Dave Willis, local chief steward, said. Instead, it hires more unclassified officers. "We don't have unclassified police officers," he said. "We're an arm of the law."

The one-day picket drew workers from jails in London, Toronto and elsewhere.
The workers played Hero by Foo Fighters on repeat and tried unsuccessfully to speak to a Niagara Detention Centre superintendent.

Negotiations have been ongoing, said Ciaran Ganley, a Ministry of Government Services spokesman. As for unclassified workers, Ganley said he could not discuss specific issues that may be part of negotiations. "The government is optimistic it'll reach an agreement that is both fair and equitable to the employees, and that balances the need to provide sustainable and affordable public services," he said.

There are about 150 corrections workers at the Niagara Detention Centre.

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