York uniformed police ratify deal, scale back job action on tickets

Prospects of peace in York policing grows

Yorkregion.com
Aug. 29, 2016
By Jeremy Grimaldi

York Region's police officers have ratified their contract with 85-per-cent of officers accepting the deal that came just weeks before conciliation was set to begin.

Ballots were counted on Friday at about 1 p.m. with non-uniformed personnel ratifying the deal at the higher rate of 91 per cent.

Although the details of the contract were not been released to the public, we do know it comes more than half a year after the last collective agreement expired.

This is not the only positive sign of peace among the police union and York Regional Police Services Board, chaired by Frank Scarpitti.

Phil Shrewsbury-Gee, the association secretary, said although the job action union members began at the end of June will continue, it has been scaled back.

"The association and senior executive of YRP have been conducting ongoing meetings to address members ongoing concerns," he said in an interview. "There's been a committee of members struck to deal with issues … we're pleased to advise that communications with the executive have been very productive and a number of concerns raised by our members have been addressed. We're hopeful any outstanding issues will be resolved amicably in the near future."

However, he added that members continue to wear badges and T-shirts in "support of members and the community".

The news comes weeks after yorkregion.com obtained statistics showing tickets dolled out by cops dropped 66 per cent from last year in the three weeks after the work action began. Conversely, warnings to drivers rose steeply.

After a deal was struck between the two parties, Scarpitti said he was pleased with the headway.

“The police services board recognizes the personal commitment and professional work of York Regional Police members and we are very pleased a mutually acceptable tentative settlement has been reached,” he said in a statement. “We appreciate the collaborative approach that led to a successful agreement.”