Correctional workers in Ontario are moving closer to a strike.

Greg Arnold, who speaks for the corrections division of OPSEU in Thunder Bay, said employees have been without a contract for over a year, and recently voted 95 per cent against a tentative contract with the Ontario government.

Arnold said the deal was ratified by most other public service bargaining groups, which he said are more concerned about job security than wages, benefits and workplace issues.

"We know our jobs aren't going anywhere, and there's been so much more demands put on our corrections staff within the institutions — assaults, multiple assaults, short staffing — basically it's a ministry that I feel has been neglected," he said.

The corrections bargaining team has asked for conciliation, and an agreement around essential services, which is required before a strike can be called, he added.

Arnold said corrections staff are concerned about rollbacks to wages and benefits.

"You know, we're not one of those sexy ministries. We're the Ministry of Correctional Services. This province wants its correctional officers to go multiple years without any raises, and it's very dangerous work," he said.

"So, the bottom line in our division is, we're sick and tired and we're fed up."

Wages for Ontario corrections staff are about 10 to 12 per cent behind their federal counterparts, Arnold said.