I have read elsewhere that this problem comes into play when you upgrade your phone. When doing an install, it restores your phone setting etc and brings across with it some settings that mess up the slider.
I believe the only way to fix it is to go to general, reset ALL settings and data, and to set the phone up as a new phone. Problem is you loose all your application data too.
Not sure if this really works - I am having the same problem on my wife's phone (she upgraded) and will give it a try.
Would be good to know if others have tried this already.