FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE April 6, 2006
Union reaffirms
zero-tolerance policy on racism after incidents at Toronto
jails
TORONTO – The
Ontario Public Service Employees Union reaffirmed today its
zero-tolerance policy for racism and discrimination in the
workplace after incidents of racism in Toronto-area
correctional facilities.
“Our policy on racism and
discrimination is simple,” said OPSEU President Leah Casselman.
“We don’t tolerate it.”
OPSEU’s legal counsel has been
representing five union members who have been harassed and
discriminated against at the Toronto Jail over the past year.
The union alleges that the Ministry of Community Safety and
Correctional Services has failed to provide a safe working
environment. The complaints are now at hearings before the
Ontario Public Service Grievance Settlement Board.
The union also requested that
the Toronto police Hate Crimes Unit investigate the incidents.
“We hope that the investigation takes place quickly and the
situation will be resolved as soon as possible,” Casselman
said.
She pointed out that OPSEU has
been working diligently over a number of years to eliminate
racism and harassment in Ontario’s correctional facilities.
The union made historic strides with the formation of the
joint Systemic Change Committee, tasked with dealing with such
incidents and educating correctional managers and staff on
behavioural change in the jails.
“Our goal is to have racism-
and discrimination-free workplaces in the entire public
service,” Casselman said. “There is no room in our society for
these attitudes.”
-30-
For further information,
please contact:
Don Ford, OPSEU
Communications: (416) 788-9104
