STATEMENT FROM ALOK MUKHERJEE, CHAIR
TORONTO POLICE SERVICES BOARD
Toronto - The Toronto Police Services Board and the Toronto Police Association are currently engaged in contract arbitration. Yesterday, Arbitrator William Kaplan issued an award which provided an interim wage increase of three percent (3%) to the base pay rates of Toronto Police Association members. This increase is retroactive to January 1, 2008.
The Board would like to thank the arbitrators for the important role they have played so far in this matter. We support this interim award, and recognize that it is taking a long time to negotiate the new contract. We will implement the interim wage increase as soon as possible.
As we continue the negotiation and arbitration processes, the Board remains committed to achieving a fair collective agreement that appropriately compensates our members and is fair to the people of Toronto. We must also ensure that any outcome allows for the efficient and effective delivery of policing services that the people of Toronto deserve.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
BOARD SEEKS CANDIDATES' POSITION ON CRITICAL COMMUNITY SAFETY ISSUES
TORONTO: Toronto Police Services Board Chair Alok Mukherjee has sent a letter to candidates contesting the federal election in Toronto ridings seeking their positions on three issues critical to community safety and the efficient delivery of police services. The Board has asked the Chair to solicit candidates' positions because of its keen interest in the federal role in supporting public safety in Toronto.
First, the letter describes the tremendous cost burden that the outright downloading of policing responsibilities, cross-jurisdictional policing and the need to provide policing services to fill a gap or an unmet need, have placed on the Toronto Police Service. The Chair asks candidates their position on this issue and what steps they would take in this area.
Second, the letter details the significant concerns around the use of firearms in the commission of criminal acts in Toronto and, in particular, the use of handguns by young people. The letter indicates that the Board has taken the position that all levels of government should work together to take the necessary legislative action on this issue, impose a handgun ban and increase enforcement measures to prevent gun trafficking. The Chair asks candidates their position on the measures that they believe should be taken to combat gun violence, include legislative changes, collaboration with other levels of government and the implementation of specific crime prevention initiatives.
Lastly, the letter discusses the commitment made by the Conservative Party during the last federal election to put 2500 new police officers on the streets of Canada and the fact that this commitment has yet to be fully met. The Chair asks candidates how they, if elected, would, act on this important commitment.
Each candidate is asked to describe what concrete action they will take personally on each issue, if elected and they are told that the responses will be posted publically.
The full text of the letter can be found on the Board’s website.
First, the letter describes the tremendous cost burden that the outright downloading of policing responsibilities, cross-jurisdictional policing and the need to provide policing services to fill a gap or an unmet need, have placed on the Toronto Police Service. The Chair asks candidates their position on this issue and what steps they would take in this area.
Second, the letter details the significant concerns around the use of firearms in the commission of criminal acts in Toronto and, in particular, the use of handguns by young people. The letter indicates that the Board has taken the position that all levels of government should work together to take the necessary legislative action on this issue, impose a handgun ban and increase enforcement measures to prevent gun trafficking. The Chair asks candidates their position on the measures that they believe should be taken to combat gun violence, include legislative changes, collaboration with other levels of government and the implementation of specific crime prevention initiatives.
Lastly, the letter discusses the commitment made by the Conservative Party during the last federal election to put 2500 new police officers on the streets of Canada and the fact that this commitment has yet to be fully met. The Chair asks candidates how they, if elected, would, act on this important commitment.
Each candidate is asked to describe what concrete action they will take personally on each issue, if elected and they are told that the responses will be posted publically.
The full text of the letter can be found on the Board’s website.
Friday, October 3, 2008
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY
Earlier this week I was delighted to proclaim the first Annual Occupational Health and Safety Day at the Toronto Police Service.
The Toronto Police Services Board has a keen interest in the health and safety of all of the members of the Service. For the Board, our concern goes beyond health and safety and includes the overall wellness of our members. I believe that this commitment is part of what makes us an employer of choice.
I am also very pleased that health and safety is an area in which the Board, the Service and the Association can all work together productively, in the best interest of the members of our Service.
Here are my speaking notes from the launch.
Good morning,
On behalf of the Toronto Police Services Board, it gives me great pleasure to proclaim today, October 1, 2008, as our annual Occupational Health and Safety Day. As of this day, the first Wednesday of every October shall be our Occupational Health and Safety Day.
And on behalf of the Board, the Service, the Association and their representatives on the Central Joint Health and Safety Committee, I want to welcome all of our Joint Health and Safety Committees for joining us on this important today.
The “Occupational Health and Safety” Board policy states that:
The Toronto Police Services Board, as the employer, is ultimately responsible for worker health and safety. Through the implementation of initiatives intended to eliminate occupational illnesses and injuries, the Toronto Police Services Board is dedicated to the goal of enhancing employee wellness and maintaining workplaces that are safe and healthy for the members of the Toronto Police Service.
The Board recognizes that the local Joint Health and Safety Committees and the Central Joint Health and Safety Committee play an integral role in helping the Board achieve this goal. Joint Health and Safety Committees throughout the Service will be the framework within which Management and the Toronto Police Association will work cooperatively to develop and implement the internal responsibility system that is the key to an effective health and safety program.
As you can see, the Board Policy recognizes the local Joint Health and Safety Committees to be the foundation of our occupational health and safety system.
Health and safety of members is a matter of great importance to all of us. I am pleased that it is an area in which the Board, the Service and the Association work cooperatively and for a common purpose.
I want to thank all members of our local Committees for your energy, your interest and your dedication. Beginning with the October 6 meeting, you have been invited to visit our Central Joint Health and Safety Committee. I look forward to meeting many of you as you attend our meeting, get to know what we do, and share your knowledge and information with us.
Once again, on behalf of the Toronto Police Services Board, I am pleased to be here to commemorate the first ever Occupational Health and Safety Day. It is critical that we remember, each and every day, that employee wellness is a paramount concern and that we work together to ensure that our workplace is healthy, safe and happy.
Thank you.
The Toronto Police Services Board has a keen interest in the health and safety of all of the members of the Service. For the Board, our concern goes beyond health and safety and includes the overall wellness of our members. I believe that this commitment is part of what makes us an employer of choice.
I am also very pleased that health and safety is an area in which the Board, the Service and the Association can all work together productively, in the best interest of the members of our Service.
Here are my speaking notes from the launch.
Good morning,
On behalf of the Toronto Police Services Board, it gives me great pleasure to proclaim today, October 1, 2008, as our annual Occupational Health and Safety Day. As of this day, the first Wednesday of every October shall be our Occupational Health and Safety Day.
And on behalf of the Board, the Service, the Association and their representatives on the Central Joint Health and Safety Committee, I want to welcome all of our Joint Health and Safety Committees for joining us on this important today.
The “Occupational Health and Safety” Board policy states that:
The Toronto Police Services Board, as the employer, is ultimately responsible for worker health and safety. Through the implementation of initiatives intended to eliminate occupational illnesses and injuries, the Toronto Police Services Board is dedicated to the goal of enhancing employee wellness and maintaining workplaces that are safe and healthy for the members of the Toronto Police Service.
The Board recognizes that the local Joint Health and Safety Committees and the Central Joint Health and Safety Committee play an integral role in helping the Board achieve this goal. Joint Health and Safety Committees throughout the Service will be the framework within which Management and the Toronto Police Association will work cooperatively to develop and implement the internal responsibility system that is the key to an effective health and safety program.
As you can see, the Board Policy recognizes the local Joint Health and Safety Committees to be the foundation of our occupational health and safety system.
Health and safety of members is a matter of great importance to all of us. I am pleased that it is an area in which the Board, the Service and the Association work cooperatively and for a common purpose.
I want to thank all members of our local Committees for your energy, your interest and your dedication. Beginning with the October 6 meeting, you have been invited to visit our Central Joint Health and Safety Committee. I look forward to meeting many of you as you attend our meeting, get to know what we do, and share your knowledge and information with us.
Once again, on behalf of the Toronto Police Services Board, I am pleased to be here to commemorate the first ever Occupational Health and Safety Day. It is critical that we remember, each and every day, that employee wellness is a paramount concern and that we work together to ensure that our workplace is healthy, safe and happy.
Thank you.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
POLICE CHIEFS WANT TO HALT PAY TO SUSPENDED COPS
In July I wrote an op ed in The Toronto Star and blogged here and here on the need to allow for suspension without pay of police officers in certain circumstances. This is an issue that is of paramount importance to the Toronto Police Services Board.
In fact,since 1997, the Toronto Police Services Board and the Toronto Police Service have made numerous recommendations to politicians for amendments to the Police Services Act that would allow for suspension without pay in certain circumstances. The last time our Board did this was on September 28, 2006.
The Hamilton Spectator's Susan Clairmont very clearly lays out the issue and Ontario's unique position in today's paper.
In fact,since 1997, the Toronto Police Services Board and the Toronto Police Service have made numerous recommendations to politicians for amendments to the Police Services Act that would allow for suspension without pay in certain circumstances. The last time our Board did this was on September 28, 2006.
The Hamilton Spectator's Susan Clairmont very clearly lays out the issue and Ontario's unique position in today's paper.
Friday, September 12, 2008
CRIME. CRIME. CRIME. CRIME.
It is day six of the federal election campaign and, as usual, I am watching it with great curiosity and interest.
The federal party leaders are out and about, everyone making their first of a large number of stops in the vote-rich GTA.
They talk about issues like infrastructure, manufacturing and families.
They also talk about crime.
If the party leaders want to get serious about crime, they can do what the Toronto Police Services Board and Mayor Miller (who is a member of our Board) have repeatedly called on Ottawa to do – impose a handgun ban.
This issue goes far beyond the election. It is an issue that I have frequently blogged on (here, here and here) because it is one significant thing that the federal government can do quickly to address the issue of gun violence in this country.
I will continue to watch this election with great interest in the hope that all party leaders will make the issue of a handgun ban a priority
DIVERSITY AND THE TORONTO POLICE SERVICE
Yestderday, 77 new recruits joined the Toronto Police Service. I would like to share with you this article from today's Toronto Sun on the diversity of people who are coming to work for the Toronto Police Service. As I have said in previous blogs, here and here, the demographics of our recruits are changing to reflect the diversity that is Toronto.
And that's a good thing.
And that's a good thing.
Friday, September 5, 2008
SPARKING PUBLIC DEBATE
Today The Toronto Sun has called for a review of the practice of paid duty by police officers in Toronto with its editorial on the subject. It appears that this is becoming a matter of significant public interest.
This morning, on CFRB 1010, Jim Richards and his listeners also weighed in on the topic during the "Jim Richards Showgram."
In Wednesday's blog I mentioned John Barber's column on paid duty in the Globe and Mail.
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