FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 4, 2006
Jail racism runs
rampant as Liberals ignore death threats to black Correctional
Officers
TORONTO – The Ontario
government is fueling racism in Toronto-area jails by ignoring
a recent storm of death threats against at least eight
Correctional Officers, the Ontario Public Service Employees
Union says.
“Our efforts to get this
government to use its considerable powers to put an end to
threats of harm against our members have been met with
deliberate stonewalling,” said OPSEU president Leah Casselman.
“Instead of fighting these racist threats, the government’s
response is to sweep them under the rug and ignore the human
rights of black Correctional Officers.”
The current rash of written
threats began about 18 months ago at the Toronto (Don) Jail
and targets both male and female officers. In the latest
incident, a Correctional Officer received a threatening letter
accompanied by a knife delivered to his home. Racist language
is used in all the threats.
“Throughout this crisis, the
Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services has not
launched an investigation, has not performed a risk assessment
for the threatened individuals, has not spoken out against the
threats in the workplace, and has done next to nothing to
ensure the safety of threatened officers,” said Casselman.
“We are calling for a full
public inquiry into the threats and the resulting poisoned
work environment that the Ministry has done nothing to
address.
“Our members work in an
extremely dangerous environment and face intense stress on the
job already – they don’t need it stalking them in the lunch
room or at home,” she said. “Our union is committed to
eradicating racism in all our workplaces and in the broader
community our members serve.”
In an unorthodox move, OPSEU
Local 530 at the Toronto Jail has offered a reward, matched by
OPSEU head office, for information leading to charges being
laid in connection with the threats.
OPSEU represents about 4,800
Correctional Officers across the province.
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For more information:
Randy Robinson (416)
448-7441; (416) 788-9134 (cell)
