Alexander P.

Polishuk (retired)
Andrew F. Camman
Anthony F. Steele
Susan A.
Toth
Aislyn
Griffin

June 16, 2015

Ontario Public Service Employees Union 100 Lesmill
Rd.
Toronto, ON
M3B 3P8
Attention: Smokey Thomas, President, OPSEU
BY EMAIL: wthomas@opseu.org

To Whom It May Concern;

Re: CECBA Reform Group
We have been retained by a group of union dues-paying OPSEU members, the CECBA
Reform Group (CRG), to represent their interest in establishing meaningful strike
rights, particularly in light of the Supreme Court of Canadas recent trilogy of Freedom of
Association decisions earlier this year 1.
The CRG has received financial support from over 1000 members of the Corrections
Bargaining Unit and informal support from significantly more. I am sure you are aware
that CRGs leadership is comprised of Glenn Stockfish (Maplehurst Correctional
Complex), Barry Roy (Ontario Correctional Institute), Kerry Kaufman (Toronto South
Detention Centre), Conrad Gareau (Toronto East Detention Centre), and Larry Agustin
(Toronto South Detention Centre).
We are encouraged with OPSEUs recent position in the May 14, 2015 edition of
TableTalk that zero bargaining unit members is the right number required for
Essential Services to allow for a meaningful strike. Any other number, negotiated or
imposed, for a partial right to strike, is actually no right to strike at all. Either
correctional staff are nonessential, and have a right to meaningfully strike, or they are
essential, and have a right to alternative effective and fair means to resolve bargaining
disputes, such as binding arbitration.
Despite the rhetoric espoused by OPSEU we have serious concerns about the
authenticity of its position. We would like a confirmation from OPSEU that it intends to

assert its members' rights to meaningful strikes, which means no correctional staff would
work during a strike for any period of time. Should OPSEU sign an Essential Services
Agreement for any number above 0%, we have instructions to bring a representative
application to protect our correctional workers rights.
We look forward to your commitment to protecting the Freedom of Association rights that
have recently been strongly endorsed and affirmed by the Supreme Court of Canada. A
response by June 30th , 2015 confirming this commitment would be appreciated. Should
you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the undersigned.

Yours very truly,

POLISHUK, CAMMAN & STEELE

Andrew Camman
AC/st
1

Saskatchewan Federation of Labour v. Saskatchewan, 2015 SCC 4, Mounted Police Association of Ontario v
Canada (Attorney General), 2015 SCC 1, and Meredith v. Canada (Attorney General), 2015 SCC 2.
535 Talbot Street, London ON N6A 2S5 Telephone 519.858.8005 Facsimile 519.858.4013
email: acamman@pcslawyers.com asteele@pcslawyers.com stoth@pcslawyers.com agriffin@pcslawyers.com web:
www.pcslawyers.com

cc: Philip Shearer (pmshearer@rogers.com);

Ron Elliot, Regional Vice-President, (relliot@sympatico.ca),
Len Elliott (len67@rogers.com),
Eduardo (Eddy) Almeida, 1st Vice-President/Treasurer (ealmeida@opseu.org),
Drew Finucane (opseu_local219@live.ca),
Debbie Tungatt, Regional Vice-President, (dtungatt@gmail.com),
Sara Labelle, Regional Vice-President sassa26_ca2003@yahoo.ca,
Gord Longhi gord.longhi@gmail.com
Sean Platt sean_region3@outlook.com,
Gareth Jones, Regional Vice-President marchdweller@gmail.com,
Chrisy Tremblay chrisy.tremblay@hotmail.com,
Edie Strachan framboisegirl@gmail.com,
Ibrahim Bozai ibrahimopseu@gmail.com,
Myles Magner, Regional Vice-President mylesmagner@gmail.com,
Jeff Arbus, Regional Vice-President jeff_arbus@hotmail.com,
Michel Bisaillon britgoalie@cogeco.ca, Felicia Fahey faheyfelicia@gmail.com,
Ed Arvelin eddyarvelin720@gmail.com,
Carl Thibodeau, Regional Vice-President carlthib@shaw.ca,
Glen Archer glenka@hotmail.com