THUNDER BAY -- There's some dissension among members of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, in regards to the new tentative agreement with the province.
Thunder Bay OPSEU members gathered at the CLE Heritage building Wednesday to discuss details of the new contract. Some of them will vote on the deal next week but the correctional services group is warning them to think twice before voting.
It's a three year deal that sees a 1.4 per cent lump sum increase by the second year. Another 1.4 percent increase goes to the grid the following year. Provincial Bailiff at Thunder Bay Regional Jail Greg Arnold said that's not only a bad deal for his group but the others as well. Arnold is cautioning that the new deal shows no progression.
The Unified Group and the Central Group of OPSEU will vote on the agreement over three days next week.
Representatives from OPSEU say the deal is a good one, recommending that the membership accept the new agreement. Region 7 representative for OPSEU John Watson said the deal offers options that weren't there before.
The union is made up of 35,000, 6000 of those members belong to the correctional services group. The two parties will be in contact in early November but Arnold says if things remain the same it could get ugly.
