FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 31, 2003
Private Jail staff to protest over working conditions
PENETANGUISHENE - Unionized members at the Central North Correctional Centre will hold a demonstration to protest against working conditions and draconian employer policies at Canada's first privatized adult correctional facility.
Date: Friday, August 1, 2003
Time: 8:00 a.m.
Location: CNCC Main entrance, 1501 Fuller Avenue, Penetanguishene
Management and Training Corporation, the American company running the facility, will host a visit from their Utah board of directors on Friday. Correctional staff want to ensure that the company's decision makers know what they are facing inside the facility.
"There are serious concerns about how this jail is being operated," said Mort Todd, acting OPSEU Staff Representative. "It's time that people found out about the problems with understaffing, the high turnover rate, and the serious health and safety concerns that are being ignored. MTC is also violating the Employment
Standards Act with respect to days off, mandatory overtime and lack of proper payment on statutory holidays."
OPSEU and Management and Training Corporation are set to begin contract talks on August 5. Todd said that public needs to be aware about the myriad of problems correctional staff must deal with daily.
"Our members will not sacrifice their safety so that MTC can make a profit," Todd said. "It is time for this employer to stop playing games and bring the working standards in the jail up to the same level as provincially-run jails in Ontario."
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For more information:
Mort Todd, Staff Representative (705) 794-5869
Don Ford, OPSEU Communications (416) 788-9104
