Corrections officers in Windsor-Essex have decisively rejected a tentative deal with the provincial government.

Andy Simpraga, the President of OPSEU Local 135, tells CTV Windsor his members voted 98.8 per cent against a new contract.

Across the province, corrections officers voted 94 per cent against the deal.

OPSEU will now begin contract bargaining for the 8,000 officers who work at Ontario's jails and prisons.

These workers have lost their right to strike and are now considered an essential service

OPSEU members at all other Ontario ministries accepted the new four-year contract.

The Liberal government says the new agreement includes modest wage increases "that are fair and reasonable to employees and align with current economic and labour market trends."