UPDATE with some contract details: Midnight Strike At Correctional Facilities Averted

Saturday Afternoon – Union officials say the deal worked out for 6,000 correctional workers in Ontario addresses all outstanding issues – including the workers’ desire to be deemed ‘essential’. Tom O’Neill, chair of the OPSEU correctional bargaining team, says the agreement achieved enhancements over a tentative deal rejected by correctional workers in December. “All improvements in the Nov. 23 agreement are in this deal, plus other improvements, most notably, transition to binding arbitration to settle bargaining disputes,” he said. “This deal satisfies the strong desire of our members to have their wages set at arbitration.”

Saturday Morning – There won’t be a midnight strike at correctional centres in the province. A tentative deal has been reached between the the government and the union representing 6000 corrections workers. Outstanding issues had included staff shortages and whether their work should be considered an essential service. The workers have been without a contract since December 2014.