Your Correctional Bargaining Team is pleased to announce the five Mobilizers selected for the 2024 round of bargaining. We extend a sincere thanks to all the applicants who expressed their interest in these positions.
Casey Stewart is a Food Service Helper at the Toronto South Detention Centre for the last five years. She wears many hats in OPSEU/SEFPO Local 5112. She is currently Secretary, Steward and is a certified Health & Safety Representative. She is also the Chair of Membership for the Greater Toronto Area Council. During her term, she has successfully planned and participated in the Grassy Narrows River Run, solidarity support at strike lines, Labour Day parades, holiday parties and Corrections Cares events. She regularly attends Regional and Central events such as Divisionals, Convention, Provincial Young Workers Conferences, & Region 5 Educationals. Casey is also an alternate for the Bargaining Team.
Dana Bruno is a Correctional Officer at Thunder Bay Correctional Centre. She began her Career in 2018. She is currently a Steward for Local 708, Vice Chair of The Provincial Young Workers Committee, and Vice-Chair of the Thunder Bay and District Area Council. She was previously the Treasurer for the Thunder Bay Correctional Centre’s Local Executive Committee. She has organized events and fundraisers such as family days, local food drives and Corrections Cares pet adoption days.
Joel Bissonnette is a Correctional Officer at the Sarnia Jail, starting in his position in 2002. His journey as a union activist began in 2008 when he joined the local executive as the Chief Steward – a position he held for eight years. For the past decade, he has had the privilege of leading as a Local President. Joel has planned and attended several fundraisers, lobby days, meetings with MPPs, and Corrections Cares events. Joel is also an alternate for the Bargaining Team.
Ryan “Gilly” Gilchrist is a Correctional Officer at Central North Correctional Centre. He started his career in 2013 at Toronto East Detention Centre and transferred to Central East Correctional Centre. He has held positions on local executives including 2nd Vice-President, 1st Vice-President, and acting President, as well as alternates to the MERC and Bargaining teams. As a union activist, Ryan has organized and participated in rallies supporting the COR only movement and mobilizing against the employer.
Lisa Reitano is a Probation and Parole Officer at the Ottawa West Probation and Parole Office. She has been a Probation and Parole Officer since 2003. She has been a steadfast member of Local 424 holding positions as a Health and Safety Representative, Steward, Treasurer, and most recently Local President. She is an alternate for the Regional Employee Relations Committee in Eastern Region for CCS and is an alternate for the Bargaining Team.
The Bargaining Team looks forward to having dedicated Mobilizers during this round of bargaining.
The role of the Mobilizers is to establish contact in each Correctional Bargaining Unit local and worksite:
- To facilitate two-way communication between the membership and the Bargaining Team
- To work with the Bargaining Team and OPSEU/SEFPO Campaigns on any mobilizing strategy and campaigns during the negotiations phase
- To liaise with local worksites, including onsite visits and attending local meetings as directed by the Bargaining Team Chair
- Confirming member contact information to ensure that members are receiving timely information from the Bargaining Team
The Mobilizers will be receiving training in early November and then will begin making contact with worksites and locals across the province.
Members should be aware that individual bargaining team members cannot respond to any bargaining-related questions or concerns. If you have questions, please contact the Correctional Bargaining Team at CorrectionsOPSBargaining@opseu.org.
In solidarity,
Janet Laverty, Bargaining Team Chair
Adam Cygler, Bargaining Team Vice Chair
