LONDON – Delays in getting inmates
from Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre to local courts can be blamed
directly on government inaction on overcrowded facilities, says the
Ontario Public Service Employees Union.
OPSEU President Warren (Smokey)
Thomas says that his members can no longer break rules or ignore safety
standards just so inmates can get to court on time.
“For years, the Ministry has been
packing more and more inmates into too little space, and expecting the
staff to cope with the extra work it takes to deal with this,” Thomas
said. “As a result, our members have had to ignore rules and cut corners
just to do their jobs. A maximum-security facility is the last place
this should happen.”
OPSEU Corrections Division Chair Eddy
Almeida says that members must place safety first inside the facilities.
“In Corrections, when safety rules
are ignored there is a huge potential for disaster,” Almeida said. “Our
members should never sacrifice safety for the sake of beating a clock.
The court system has to realize that the problem lies with the Ministry,
not our members.”
Thomas says his union has been ready
for months to work with the employer to come up with solution, but the
Ministry has shown little interest so far.
“Until we can come up with a
reasonable plan to deal with overcrowding and the associated problems,
our members have to protect themselves and the public,” Thomas said.
“They simply cannot breach security and take risks because the Ministry
won’t deal with the root causes of the problem. We sympathize with the
courts, but judges must deal with the Ministry at the decision-making
level. Our members absolutely shouldn’t be punished for following the
Ministry’s own rules.”
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