GSB#2011-2273

UNION#2011-0719-0062

IN THE MATTER OF AN ARBITRATION

Under

THE CROWN EMPLOYEES COLLECTIVE BARGAINING ACT

Before

THE GRIEVANCE SETTLEMENT BOARD

BETWEEN

Ontario Public Service Employees Union (Spooner)

Union

• and -

The Crown in Right of Ontario (Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services)

Employer

BEFORE

Felicity D. Briggs

Vice-Chair

FOR THE UNION

Tim Mulhall Ontario Public Service Employees Union Grievance Officer

FOR THE EMPLOYER

Greg Gledhill Ministry of Government Services Centre for Employee Relations Staff Relations Officer

HEARING

October 20, 2011.

Decision

1In September of 1996 the Ministry of Correctional Services notified the Union and employees at a number of provincial correctional institutions that their facilities would be closed and/or restructured over the next few years. On June 6, 2000 and June 29, 2000 the Union filed policy and individual grievances that alleged various breaches of the Collective Agreement including Article 6 and Article 31.15 as well as grievances relating to the filling of Correctional Officer positions. In response to these grievances the parties entered into discussions and ultimately agreed upon two Memoranda of Settlement concerning the application of the collective agreement during the “first phase of the Ministry’s transition”. One memorandum, dated May 3, 2000 (hereinafter referred to as “MERC 1” (Ministry Employment Relations Committee)) outlined conditions for the correctional officers while the second, dated July 19, 2001 (hereinafter referred to as “MERC 2”) provided for the non-correctional officer staff. Both agreements were subject to ratification by respective principles and settled all of the grievances identified in the related MERC appendices, filed up to that point in time.

2While it was agreed in each case that the settlements were “without prejudice or precedent to positions either the union or the employer may take on the same issues in future discussions”, the parties recognized that disputes might arise regarding the implementation of the memoranda. Accordingly, they agreed, at Part G, paragraph 8:

The parties agree that they will request that Felicity Briggs, Vice Chair of the Grievance Settlement Board will be seized with resolving any disputes that arise from the implementation of this agreement.

3It is this agreement that provides me with the jurisdiction to resolve the outstanding matters.

4Both MERC 1 and MERC 2 are lengthy and comprehensive documents that provide for the identification of vacancies and positions and the procedure for filling those positions as they become available throughout various phases of the restructuring. Given the complexity and size of the task of restructuring and decommissioning of institutions, it is not surprising that a number of grievances and disputes arose. This is another of the disputes that have arisen under the MERC Memorandum of Settlement.

5When I was initially invited to hear theses transition disputes, the parties agreed that process to be followed for the determination of these matters would be virtually identical to that found in Article 22.16.2 which states:

The mediator/arbitrator shall endeavour to assist the parties to settle the grievance by mediation. If the parties are unable to settle the grievance by mediation, the mediator/arbitrator shall determine the grievance by arbitration. When determining the grievance by arbitration, the mediator/arbitrator may limit the nature and extent of the evidence and may impose such conditions as he or she considers appropriate. The mediator/arbitrator shall give a succinct decision within five (5) days after completing proceedings, unless the parties agree otherwise.

6The transition committee has dealt with dozens of grievances and complaints prior to the mediation/arbitration process. There have been many other grievances and issues raised before me that I have either assisted the parties to resolve or arbitrated. However, there are still a large number that have yet to be dealt with. It is because of the vast numbers of grievances that I have decided, in accordance with my jurisdiction to so determine, that grievances are to be presented by way of each party presenting a statement of the facts with accompanying submissions. Notwithstanding that some grievors might wish to attend and provide oral evidence, to date, this process has been efficient and has allowed the parties to remain relatively current with disputes that arise from the continuing transition process.

7Not surprisingly, in a few instances there has been some confusion about the certain facts or simply insufficient detail has been provided. On those occasions I have directed the parties to speak again with their principles to ascertain the facts or the rationale behind the particular outstanding matter. In each case this has been done to my satisfaction.

8It is essential in this process to avoid accumulating a backlog of disputes. The task of resolving these issues in a timely fashion was, from the outset, a formidable one. With ongoing changes in Ministerial boundaries and other organizational alterations, the task has lately become larger, not smaller. It is for these reasons that the process I have outlined is appropriate in these circumstances.

9Over a number of years the transition committee has faced various and continuing organizational changes within this Ministry and has worked tirelessly to attempt to reduce or at least significantly limit the impact on members of the bargaining unit. Recently further jail closures have been announced and the committee is making every effort to resolve disputes in a timely fashion.

10It was announced on March 29, 2011 that the Owen Sound Jail would be decommissioned before the end of this year. Lance Spooner is a fixed term Correctional Officer who was working at the Owen Sound Jail at the time of the announcement. According to the grievor, he was told that he was told that as a fixed term employee his only option was to transfer to another institution (except Fort Frances or CNCC) without financial assistance. On April 1, 2011 Mr. Spooner received an email apologizing for misinformation. It was clarified that he would be able to transfer to CNCC.

11The grievor then embarked upon a path apparently destined to transfer to the Kenora Jail. On or about April 4, 2011, Mr. Spooner had a telephone conversation with the Superintendent and a tour was scheduled for a few days later. On April 12th 2011 Mr. Spooner took a tour of the Kenora Jail and by April 28, 2011 he had received written confirmation of the transfer of his contract to the Kenora Jail.

12Mr. Spooner’s grievance, which was dated August 29, 2011, alleges that the Employer “failed to notify [me] of their intentions to secure transfers or any other job security measures prior to my decision to secure employment at Kenora”.

13Simply put, that allegation does not stand up to scrutiny. By his own admission Mr. Spooner was told that he could transfer to any institution including CNCC before he initiated the conversation with the Kenora superintendent that brought about his eventual transfer.

14There was no dispute between the parties that all Correctional Officers were told in very early April that the parties had already begun to negotiate an agreement regarding the decommissioning of the jail. Further, employees were all told that everyone could go to CNCC if they elected to do so.

15Accordingly, the grievance is denied.