A 12-member association representing inspectors, civilian managers, and directors was formed on Nov. 12. The creation of a separate bargaining unit for senior officers aligns with common practices across police services in Ontario and reflects recommendations made in a 2021 third-party review of the Sarnia Police Service. The new association has already notified the Sarnia […]
A 12-member association representing inspectors, civilian managers, and directors was formed on Nov. 12. The creation of a separate bargaining unit for senior officers aligns with common practices across police services in Ontario and reflects recommendations made in a 2021 third-party review of the Sarnia Police Service.
The new association has already notified the Sarnia Police Services Board of its intention to negotiate, resulting in two concurrent sets of contract discussions.
Mediation is a formal step in the collective bargaining process where an independent third party helps both sides work through unresolved issues. The mediator does not make decisions but facilitates discussions in an effort to guide the parties toward a mutually acceptable agreement. If mediation is unsuccessful, the process typically moves to arbitration.
A bargaining unit is a defined group of employees represented by a union or association for the purpose of negotiating a collective agreement. Members of a bargaining unit share similar roles, responsibilities, or workplace interests. In policing, it is common for senior officers and managers to form a separate bargaining unit from front-line officers and civilian staff.
Mediation is expected to begin shortly for the remaining members of the service, following contract talks that have been ongoing since mid-2023. The Sarnia Police Association, representing 132 sworn officers and 98 civilian employees, has been without a contract since January. Both sides previously agreed that mediation would be pursued if a new agreement was not reached within the extended negotiation period.
The board and association are in the process of selecting a mediator, with the goal of identifying outstanding issues and concluding an updated agreement. Negotiations this cycle include significant revisions to modernize sections of the collective agreement beyond standard compensation clauses.
If mediation does not result in a settlement, the matter will proceed to arbitration.
