Corrections demonstrators rock North Bay

“This man is asleep at the switch.”

That’s how OPSEU President Smokey Thomas described Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services Minister Monte Kwinter at a rally in North Bay last Thursday. The rally, attended by over 200 demonstrators, was in support of the members of Local 616 at the North Bay Jail.

Staged at the Ministry’s regional office, the North Bay rally drew corrections supporters from Sault Ste. Marie, Timmins, Sudbury, Owen Sound, Toronto and Lindsay. Thomas, as well as 1st Vice-President/Treasurer Patti Rout and all the Regional Vice Presidents were there, along with members of the Corrections MERC and Health and Safety Teams. There was an excellent showing from other OPSEU locals in the area, and representatives from the North Bay Labour Council also attended to show their support.

There has been a long history of labour relations problems at the jail, but members have been under siege since last January when a 13-hour long work refusal resulted in seven Ministry of Labour orders, all favoring the members.

In the incident last January, unprotected staff refused to confront an inmate, armed with a razor, while management ignored requests to activate the facility’s specially-trained Cell Extraction Team.

Over the course of the work refusal, management at the jail continually tried to ignore the work refusal. Finally, an inspector arrived at the facility and came down hard on the employer.

What should have been the end was only the beginning. Since January, members and activists have been the target of relentless threats, discipline and suspensions, for horrible crimes such as “smirking” at supervisors and “being sarcastic.” Mike Bisaillon, President of Local 616, has himself been suspended for weeks at a time. Sick of the reprisals, the local reached out for support.

“We are not asking for anything that is not within the boundaries of the law,” Bisaillon told reporters at the rally. “When we do a work refusal, we don’t want our employer hitting us with all kinds of garbage disciplinary actions.”

In an outrageous move, the employer started an investigation into the “behaviour” of staff during the January work refusal. Claiming it was not a reprisal (which is illegal, of course), the employer continued to intimidate and question staff about (what else) the work refusal. This so-called investigation is now sitting at the Regional Director level, awaiting further action. And it’s the Regional Director that President Thomas says lies at the root of the problem.

“The Ministry is breaking the law with these reprisals…that means they are the criminals,” Thomas said. “This bureaucrat needs to go some place where she can do no more harm. Kwinter needs to wake up and fix the problem.”

Thomas was very clear that OPSEU would not stand this type of behaviour from any employer.

“There is a new order in this universe,” he told the crowd. “If you mess with our workers, you will not get away with it any more.”

Bisaillon was astounded at the number of people at the rally, and thanked the entire Corrections Division for their support.

“This has given our members a boost that we never thought was possible,” he said. “Now we know we aren’t alone trying to fight this employer. That itself means the world to us.”

Changes ahead for youth facilities

On June 8, 2007, Mary Anne Chambers, Minister of Child and Youth Services, announced that the Ontario government is reaching its goal of creating an integrated dedicated youth justice system by investing $28.4 million in building new youth justice facilities.

New facilities will be located in the Thunder Bay and Kenora/Rainy River District and the Ministry will expand an existing facility in Ottawa. The Ministry will operate the Thunder Bay facility while the facility in Kenora/Rainy River will be run by a transfer payment agency.

MCYS will work with Ontario Realty Corporation (ORC) and the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal to determine sites and build the facilities.

OPSEU Job Security and MERC representatives have contacted the local presidents of the affected facilities in Thunder Bay, Kenora and Ottawa to discuss what impacts this announcement will have. Members who have questions should contact their local president.

Congratulations to Mimico athletes

Congratulations go to members of Local 521, Mimico C.C., who won a silver medal in the Soccer component of the Canadian Law Enforcement Games on Saturday, June 2.

Six players on the team were OPSEU stewards from Local 521 which included Chief Steward Alistair Riley and Local President Greg McVeigh. Local 521 lost 1-0 in the Gold Medal match to Peel Regional Police.

For more information, call Don Ford (ext. 7442) at 1-800-268-7376 or (416) 443-8888. e-mail: dford@opseu.org

Original authorized for distribution by Warren (Smokey) Thomas, president.