FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 19, 2004
Union to take legal action over jail closure
PEMBROKE - The union representing over 7,000 provincial jail employees intends to pursue legal action over the abrupt closure of the Pembroke Jail. The jail, which was closed on April 15, will re-open on April 20 operated by the Town of Pembroke.
"It is our position that this so-called 'closure' violates our collective agreement as well as other agreements we have signed with the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services," said Barry Scanlon, a correctional officer and elected chair of OPSEU's Corrections Division. "Starting on Tuesday, the same
work will be performed at the jail that was performed there last week. No matter how you look at it, this is downloading and privatization. In corrections, we thought those days were behind us."
Darwin Lacelle, a steward for Local 447 at the jail, said his members are shocked that the Ministry would do this to their own employees.
"We have had a long and productive relationship with the Ministry up until now," Lacelle said. "Our members are very upset to be told that their jobs are gone, but they can still do the same work for half the money."
Staff plan to demonstrate in front of the facility this Tuesday:
Date: April 20, 2004
Time: 6:30 a.m.
Location: Pembroke Jail, 297 Pembroke St. E.
"We are sending a message to the government that this situation is totally unacceptable," Lacelle said. "It is obvious that the town needs the space for the inmates. It should be our members, the ones with the know-how and experience, who are doing the work."
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For more information:
Barry Scanlon (416) 788-9190
Darwin Lacelle (613) 735-2268 or (613) 633-0987 (cell)
