Norm, we tried to give you a chance.
After the resignation of Rob Sampson, we thought we would give new
Corrections Minister Norm Sterling an opportunity to get his feet wet, and at
the very least learn something about the people he is supposed to be in charge
of. Well, no such luck.
In a committee hearing on Thurs., Feb. 22, Sterling took the opportunity to
slam every correctional officer in the province. How? By railing against the
amount of sick time in the Ministry.
If you’re experiencing a bit of déjà-vu, that’s understandable. Back in
August 2000, former Corrections Minister Rob Sampson tried the same little media
trick. Let’s compare.
In August, Sampson said that correctional officers needed to work harder.
Yesterday, Sterling said that correctional officers need to work harder.
In August, Sampson said that sick time averages were “disgusting” and “totally
unacceptable.”
Yesterday, Sterling said, in reference to sick time, “this must stop.”
The new twist? Sterling says he will publish the sick time averages on the
Ministry web site in order to “embarrass” correctional officers into
performing better. Sterling is quoted in the Toronto Star as saying, “By
producing publicly what those absenteeism rates are it will encourage the staff…to
do a better job.”
The best quote of the article is Sterling’s statement, “I believe by
public accountability you get results.” Sterling then says that if absenteeism
doesn’t improve, they will force the government to “look at other kinds of
corrective actions, like looking at private sector options for more prisons.”
So that’s your plan, Norm? Improve on sick time or you will privatize
jails? Right after you state that you get results from public accountability? It’s
obvious you have absolutely no clue what you are talking about. At least Sampson
had almost a year in before he made his statement. You’ve got a grand total of
two months correctional experience.
Let us explain this to you as simply as we can. We’ll try not to use any
long words.
YOU and your Tory predecessors have created this mess. Sick time went up
under the Harris government, and spiked when Sampson became Minister. Our jails
are running on average at 150 per cent capacity. You won’t hire any full-time
replacement staff, so correctional officers are working 60-70 hours a week on
forced overtime. They’re burning out.
With so many inmates crowded into our facilities, our members have an even
greater exposure to illness and disease. Jails, by design, are sealed buildings.
The germs are just re-circulated.
You, Minister Sterling, are asking correctional officers to “do a better
job.” Does that include the 500 staff you threw out the door just before
Christmas? Does that include all the correctional officers who are waiting for
the next closure announcements? Does that include all the officers who are
risking their lives and their health every day working in the nightmares that
your government has created? Does that include all the officers who have a life
expectancy of 56 years? Does that include all of the staff who are sickened and
insulted by your plan to send our work to the private sector?
Go ahead and “embarrass” us, Mr. Sterling. It would be the same as you
cutting off someone’s leg and then making fun of him or her because they limp.
After all the attempts the union has made to try to amicably settle issues
and improve working conditions for our people, you even have the nerve to put
part of the attendance blame on a “militant” wing of the Ontario Public
Service Employees Union.
Your vicious, unprovoked attack has kicked a sleeping dog, Norm. What were
you thinking? Perhaps you need to hear from the men and women who ACTUALLY run
this Ministry.
Anyone who is interested can call Norm at Queen’s Park at (416) 314-7824,
or fax him at (416) 326-2913. You can also reach his constituency office at
(613) 253-1171 or by fax at (613) 253-1175. His e-mail address is norm_sterlingco@ontla.ola.org.
Tell Norm how you feel. He obviously doesn’t get it yet.
