FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE March 27, 2006
Strike set for
midnight at maximum-security young offender facility in Ajax
AJAX – A strike is set to
begin tonight at midnight at Kennedy House young offender
facility in Ajax.
Contract talks between the
union and management at the facility broke down over the
issues of employee safety, wages and hours of work. The
employer forced a vote, held today, on a final offer. The 34
members of Ontario Public Service Employees Union Local 361
voted 94 per cent to reject the employer’s offer and go on
strike.
“Our members are tired of
risking their lives every day for $35,000 a year,” said
bargaining team chair Steve Canning.
Youth Service Workers at
Kennedy House are paid $10,000 a year less than workers at
other young offender facilities in the province, and are
forced to work with sub-standard security measures. The
24-bed maximum-security facility, dubbed “volatile and
vulnerable” in a Ministry report released in 2002, has had
nothing done by the employer to improve safety for the
workers.
“Our members need and deserve
proper protection and a fair wage,” Canning said. “We don’t
want to strike; we’ve just been left with no choice.”
Kennedy House houses youth
between the ages of 12 and 17. Residents have been convicted
of crimes such as armed robbery, murder, sexual assault,
drug and weapons offences, home invasions and escape from
custody.
- 30 -
For more information,
please contact:
Steve Canning, President,
Local 361: 905-718-8724
Barry Casey, OPSEU Staff Rep: 1-800-263-3928
