York Region police officers begin work-to-rule campaign

The contract for 2,200 union members expired Dec. 31, 2015.

Thestar.com
June 30, 2016
By Noor Javed

York Regional Police officers have begun a work-to-rule campaign after negotiations between the union and the police services board came to a standstill last month.

The contract for 2,200 members of the York Regional Police Association, which includes both sworn and civilian members, expired Dec. 31, 2015. After months of talks failed to achieve a settlement, the union asked the board to initiate a mediation process.

“Unfortunately, our two parties have not yet been able to reach a final agreement, and on May 25 the York Regional Police Association filed for conciliation,” said Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti, who serves as the chair of the board, in a statement posted online. “We remain committed to the negotiation process and to a mutually successful outcome.”

Further meetings are scheduled for early August, said Mafalda Avellino, the executive director for the board.

The Police Services Act forbids police officers from striking or picketing, so the union is taking a more muted approach, said union president Todd Sepkowski in an email.

This will include increasing public awareness through community engagement and wearing pins that say “supporting our community” at volunteer or personal events.

The officers can also choose to take their two breaks, which are 45 minutes each, during their shift instead of skipping them, he said.

Sepkowski says the union is “frustrated” by what they see as “absurd and sometimes contradictory policies and procedures that have evolved over the years,” which are “preventing our officers from effectively and efficiently serving our community.”

He says that officers are increasingly being forced to face disciplinary hearings for speeding, or not stopping at a stop sign when they are in pursuit of suspects.

“These hearings take that officer, and a panel of officers, out of the field, meaning they are forced into a punitive internal process and aren’t out serving the community,” he said.

He says the policies have left the officers “demoralized.”

Another issue on the table for the board, is compensation for officers.

Earlier this year, a Star analysis found that York Regional Police saw a 183 per cent increase in the number of officers making $100,000 or over, according to Ontario’s public sector salary disclosure list, from 2010 to 2015.

In 2010, only 379 uniformed officers - around 26.6 per cent - were on the Sunshine List. But in 2015, that number has skyrocketed to 1,072 officers, which is about 70 per cent of York's uniformed force.

At the time, Scarpitti told the Star’s San Grewal that the salary increases were “not sustainable.”

In a statement, the police board said it is “committed to paying (officers) fairly for performing the requirements of their job. We feel the most recent offer for wage increases was very fair and in line with increases recently negotiated with other police services.

“Additionally, the Board also has the significant responsibility to be fiscally responsible to all our taxpayers.”

Currently, 30 cents of every tax dollar paid by residents to York Region goes to pay for the police.