The powerful Police Association of Ontario is backing OPSEU’s campaign to stop the privatization of correctional services.

Bill Baxter, head of the 13,000-strong police union, did not mince words in his Dec. 15 letter to Corrections Minister Rob Sampson.

"The handling, transporting, and escorting of correctional inmates is a job for trained and professional correctional officers," Baxter wrote. "Public safety cannot be compromised by leaving the care of prisoners with private citizens who lack the training and experience so crucially required.

"Please do not underestimate the professionalism and dedication of our correctional officers. The theory that they could be so easily replaced, is inconceivable."

Public opinion in Ontario does not support the privatization of policing or correctional services, Baxter told Sampson.

"Not behind closed doors!"

That was the response of the Penetanguishene jail liaison committee last night when told that Corrections Minister Rob Sampson has agreed to meet with them.

The committee passed a motion that the meeting must be public, with the community, union and anyone else with a vested interest in the facility being allowed to make deputations and ask questions. The motion also included the provision that the meeting must take place in the town of Penetanguishene.

Ministry representative Eric Chandler broached the subject of input into the Request for Proposals. The committee told him to forget it.

"Our jail is going to be public, so why would we bother? said Midland Mayor George MacDonald, to laughter and applause.

Members of OPSEU Local 233 at the Guelph Correctional Centre made a 500-km round trip, on a bitterly cold evening, to attend the meeting. Stewards John Howell, David Picard and member Cathy Knott were among them.

"I was absolutely amazed how strongly the committee and the community are opposed to a private jail," said John. "The fact that these people are also fighting for our jobs as well is astounding. We were welcomed with open arms, and even asked by the committee to make comments. It was a great experience."

Boosted by the enthusiasm in Penetanguishene, John has already arranged to make a deputation to his own town council in Waterloo Feb. 7. He hopes they too will support the fight to keep private jails out of Ontario.

Staff at the Sudbury Jail are joining hands with opposition MPPs and local citizens to fight the privatization of correctional services.

This Sunday at noon, Citizens Against Private Prisons will launch its campaign to educate their community about the hazards of for-profit corrections.

"It’s more or less just to let the people of Sudbury know what’s going on with the privatization of jails," said Local 617 treasurer Marnee Campbell. "We haven’t had a lot of information in our newspaper or in other local media."

The Sunday event is a family function with tobogganing, snowmobile rides, and hot chocolate. Local 617 vice-president Denis Leger has done a tremendous amount of work to organize the event, Campbell said (Denis was out organizing and could not be reached today).

Shelley Martel, NDP MPP for Nickel Belt, and Rick Bartolucci, Liberal MPP for Sudbury, will both be on hand for the event.

For more info, call Citizens Against Private Prisons (Sudbury Chapter) at (705) 692-3709.

The OPSEU corrections campaign has a new policy to help OPSEU locals finance public events in their communities.

Here’s how it works: Send us a proposal describing your event to fight jail privatization. If funding is approved, we will pay a maximum of $400, as follows:

Two more municipal councils have joined the fight against the proposed privately-run superjail in Penetanguishene.

Earlier this week, both Orillia and Collingwood threw their support behind the anti-privatization motion passed by the Town of Midland.

OPSEU lobby kits have been mailed to all corrections locals.

"Our goal is to have 100 councils support a motion opposing the privatization of correctional services," said Barry Scanlon, chair of the OPSEU Ministry Employee Relations Committee in the Corrections Ministry.

"There’s no magic to lobbying," he said. "You phone them up, you book a time, you go talk to your elected representatives. We just have to get out there and do it."

Looks like a publicly-run correctional facility is good enough for former Ontario Corrections boss Bob Runciman.

Runciman has stated flatly that the new Brockville correctional facility and forensic treatment centre will be public, CKWS-TV reports.

In 1998, Runciman shelved plans for private jails in Penetanguishene and Lindsay, stating that there were "too many unanswered questions about safety." Looks like Runciman knows the answers, even if new guy Rob Sampson doesn’t: "Keep it professional, keep it public!"

Thanks to the determination at the local level, Guelph Correctional Centre and the Barrie Jail have been added to the list of institutions that have had their acting managers step down. In next week’s Lock Talk, we will publish the entire list, including the corrections to the previous listing that have been sent in from the locals involved. We thank you for your support.

OPSEU continues to fight for unclassified members who work full-time hours but have not received the two per cent pay in lieu of benefits to which they are entitled.

We will be at the Grievance Settlement Board Feb. 10. More news to come.

For campaign information, contact Don Ford or Carol Whitehead at 1-800-268-7376 ext. 356 or (416) 443-8888 ext. 356