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APP3EHÛekend IL i81 MAIN ST #1& A Metroland Community1 Newspaper Vol. 143 No. 14 Friday, May 3, 2002 40 Pages $ 1.00 (GST included) After eight weeks, OPSEU workers and government reach tentative deal By FANNIE SUNSHINE The Champion A tentative agreement was reached early yesterday morning by the gov- emnment and striking Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) members. Wage improvements include 8.45 per cent over three years, plus an additional 1 per cent for employees at the top of the pay grid in every cat- egory except corrections. Corrections workers will receive 8.45 per cent over three years, plus an immediate 5 per cent wage increase. Unclassified employees (part-tîme) will receive an additional 4 per cent in pay in lieu of henefits. Unclassified employees will also he ahle to apply for permanent status after 18 months on the joh. as opposed to 24 months cor- rently. "In the last 51 days, OPSEU memhers have paid a high price to defend and improve their rights on the joh and off," OPSEU president Leah Casselman said in a press release posted on OPSEU's Weh site. "They will now have an opportunity to vote on the contract they fought so hard for." Jim Richards, vice-president of Local 234 (Maplehurst Correctional Facility), told The Champion yesterday he's generally pleased with the new agreement. "We've retained control over our pensions, which was one of the iggest issues for correc- tions. l'm pretty happy hut 1 think the govemn- ment could come up with something even hetter. The immediate 5 per cent increase was a pleas- ant surprise." Hc said voting on the new contraet will take place over the weekend. OPSEU workers ai the courthouse in Milton and workers from the Ernest C. Drury School for the Deaf- including counsellors, maintenance staff. secretaries and kitchen staff -~ have also heen on strike. Picket line-s will stili be manned until a contract agreement is finalized. Mr. Richards said correctional officers hanned from picketing in front of Maplehurst have joined other picket uines across the province, including the school for the deaf. A count order hy the Ministry of Corrections was sent out Monday afternoon, which prevent- ed OPSEU memhers from gathering outside or near the corrections huilding to picket or slow traffic to the jail. MILTOWNI 87836919 ~E751 Main St. E. hý Units 9-11 Look IW MUt [g%- IL,-%'* I~1 X Watch for our Motber>s Day Specials 224 MAIN ST. E. MILTON 878-0506 G; LIT Z m -AS UAobL CLAS S 1 Comment........ 6 HS Report .......8 Lit estyles..16-17 Sports ......Bi -B3 Classif ied .... .B4-B7 Dateline ....... B8 Frlday, May3. " AAP * Shoppera Druo ar* 0ZaIlar " Waimart * aIDA * 0Alexanien Carpela* *Viios Piza*a Critelios Village Makt*r *Food Sosies *a Canadian Tire *a Recul* a Lazy Boy *e Home Hardware* * Wallace Pontiac * eActas Carden Marke* aRogers ATAT Wrepless* *White Rose *- Searr *e Radio Shack* EnbridgelConsumners Appiance* S*etdareas only 1 - wý - -