HAMILTON – The President of the Ontario Public Service
Employees Union is demanding that Corrections Minister Monte Kwinter
immediately take control of his ministry after over 100 correctional
officers at the Hamilton-Wentworth Detention Centre received suspensions
over a health and safety refusal last March.
OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas is incredulous
that the Minister is allowing his staff to breach the Occupational
Health and Safety Act by taking reprisals against workers who are only
trying to defend themselves in one of the most dangerous work settings
in the province.
“There is nothing – absolutely nothing – more important
than the safety of our members,” Thomas said. “This Ministry will not
use illegal discipline to prevent our members from trying to protect
themselves.”
In an incident last March, staff at the jail received a
tip from local police that a firearm may be hidden in the institution.
They began to search for the weapon with full protective equipment, but
the superintendent subsequently downgraded the seriousness of the
search. This meant the staff were less protected, and they consequently
began a health and safety refusal.
While the Ministry of Labour ruled that the danger was
inherent in their work, they ordered the local health and safety
committee to agree on the search terms. Although an agreement was
reached, the Ministry has now issued suspensions without pay, averaging
80 hours per officer. This is on top of 18-hour suspensions the officers
received at the time of the incident.
“The Act specifically bans the employer from retaliating
against those trying to protect themselves, even if the Ministry of
Labour disagrees with the worker,” Thomas said. “Our members are
professionals, and won’t allow their safety to be unduly jeopardized.
Minister Kwinter needs to get to the bottom of how the corrections side
of his ministry is being run before tragedy strikes. Time is running out
for the Minister to take some positive action.”
“We will be definitely filing labour charges,” Thomas
said. “The ball is in the Kwinter’s court.”
