FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 3, 2003
Take control over Kennedy House chaos, union tells Brenda Elliott
TORONTO - The Ontario Public Service Employees Union is calling on Brenda Elliott, Ontario Minister of Community, Family and Children’s Services, to take direct control over operation of a young offender facility in Ajax to deal with “a dangerous, chaotic crisis in management and governance” there.
The 24-bed Rotherglen facility, dubbed “volatile and vulnerable” in a Ministry report, is operated by Kennedy House Youth Services, until recently the largest private operator of young offender facilities in Ontario.
“Out of a staff of 35 front-line workers at Rotherglen, approximately 10 quit every two months,” said OPSEU president Leah Casselman. “New workers, usually aged 19 to 21, normally work for several months before receiving any training at all in the correct use of restraints and the distribution of medications. Staff and
offenders are routinely injured and always at risk of serious injury on a daily basis,” she said. “Unless the Minister takes action, someone is going to get killed. It’s only a matter of time.”
Calls to Ontario’s Child Advocate from children and families who receive services from Kennedy House have skyrocketed, the Ministry report says. In 2000, the Advocate received 42 such calls; in the first five months of 2002, calls came in at an annual rate of 204.
Thirty-five members of OPSEU have been on strike at Rotherglen since June 12 after Kennedy House refused to negotiate in good faith.
Casselman said dysfunctional management was the root cause of the work stoppage. “The Ministry report shows an organization with no strategic plan, no system for keeping track of capital assets, irregular cheque writing, and little programming expertise,” she said. “Kennedy House simply doesn’t know how to run this kind
of organization.”
The Ministry report noted frequent conflicts of interest at Kennedy House, stating that “a number of Directors have been paid for services to the organization through the years.” For example, Board Chair Victor Tuba is the broker for employee benefits at the organization.
- 30 -
For more information: Randy Robinson (416) 448-7441; (416) 788-9134
