The Corrections Division of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union has requested a "no board" report from the Ministry of Labour.
If the ministry grants the report, correctional services employees could be in a legal strike position after a 17-day period.
Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services Yasir Naqvi reacted to the news Friday, saying the province will continue to be available around the clock for negotiations.
"We acknowledge that this round of negotiations has been challenging. However, we remain committed to the collective bargaining process, and to working with OPSEU's Correctional Bargaining Unit to reach an agreement that is fair and reasonable to both our employees and the public and is consistent with the government's fiscal plan," he says.
This new move comes a week after employees rejected a three-year deal, that was initially reached on November 23.
