November
17, 2000
A year in review
"Superjail goes private; 9-to-9
shifts coming. Management discloses more cuts and chaos."
That was the headline of the Nov. 19, 1999 issue of Lock Talk.
It’s been one year since Corrections Minister Rob Sampson threw our
entire ministry into disarray by announcing that the operation of the
Penetanguishene superjail was going to a private operator. Sampson threw
that sleepy community into shock with the announcement, as the citizens
had thought they were immune from any privatization initiatives.
Let’s look back at some highlights of the wonderful events that have
taken place under the brilliant leadership of "Mr. Hands On"
himself, Rob Sampson.
December 1999
Sampson finds out courtesy of the Toronto Sun that 73 of his
managers had gone to a luxury resort for two days to discuss "cost
efficiencies"; A demonstration in front of Sampson’s Mississauga
riding office has staffers locking the doors; Penetanguishene citizens
blast Ministry representatives at their first public meeting since the
announcement.
January 2000
Simcoe MPP Garfield Dunlop verbally crucified at Penetanguishene
citizens’ meeting; Members in acting manager positions start stepping
down; Municipalities start passing "no private jails"
resolutions; Shift schedule agreements terminated.
February 2000
British prison privatization expert Stephen Nathan tours Ontario;
Ministry plan to privatize outside escorts exposed; Nearly 30 correctional
officer positions cut at Toronto East D.C. and Toronto West D.C.
March 2000
Demonstrations against privatization kick into high gear; Sampson
begins issuing "threat" letters to municipalities who oppose
privatization; 800+ show up for Penetanguishene "walk of hope."
April 2000
NDP introduce anti-privatization bill; Sampson, surrounded by a
platoon of OPP officers, gets lambasted at a Penetanguishene public
meeting; Over 100 correctional officers pay Sampson a house call at the
Legislature.
May 2000
Ministry announces the closure of six more jails; Demonstrations
continue; Penetanguishene council vows to create "an RFP from
hell."
June 2000
Citizens Against Private Prisons (CAPP) launch a billboard campaign
against Sampson; Over 120 attend huge rally at Mimico C.C./TYAC.
July 2000
Sault Ste. Marie Jail slated to close; Tension escalates in the jails
due overcrowding and extended lock-down times; Government’s own poll
confirms OPSEU findings that 70 per cent of Ontarians are against private
corrections.
August 2000
Sampson tells the press that correctional officers should work harder
and take less sick time; Sampson outrages Penetanguishene citizens by
telling the press that CAPP is just an OPSEU front; Jail demonstrations
continue.
September 2000
Sampson meets secretly with Penetang mayor, infuriating council;
Sampson’s plan to have members of the public make license plates at
Millbrook lasts for less than one day; Sampson’s video message enrages
staff across the ministry.
October 2000
Liberal MPP refused entry to private Y.O facility; Ministry drops the
axe on vacation schedules; Sampson announces that inmates will receive
mandatory haircuts and is made a laughing stock in the press.
November 2000
Penetanguishene Request for Proposal (RFP) delayed; Liberals expose
Sampson on the release of inmates serving weekend sentences; Number of
municipalities opposing privatization reaches 140.
As you can see, Rob Sampson’s Gucci loafers are never far from his
mouth, and his fumble-fisted approach to Ministry
"re-structuring" leaves everyone at a loss. So it is imperative
that we keep the heat on. This fight is far from over.
In the meantime, we will continue to chronicle the Rob Sampson follies.
Buffalo State College fights private
prisons
The outrage directed towards private prisons knows no borders.
Students at Buffalo State College (BSC) are engaged in a campus brawl
with food service provider, Sodexho-Marriott. The campus food supplier’s
two-year contract with the school expires at the end of this year, and the
students want the company off campus. This is because Sodexho-Marriott is
a subsidiary of Sodexho-Alliance, a major investor in private prisons
across the world.
The committee reviewing the guidelines for the new contract was
informed that the students’ views were not to be taken into
consideration. This has left students frustrated and angry, and prompted
one professor to walk off the committee in protest.
Students at the college vow to continue the fight.
Demo coming up
Local 521 (Mimico C.C./TYAC) is hosting a demonstration on Thursday,
Nov. 30 at 10:30 a.m. A personal plea from the local for support has been
sent to Hamilton, Maplehurst, Toronto West, Toronto East, Toronto Jail,
OCI, and Vanier. Watch here for updates, and make sure you attend.
Resolution watch
The resolution count reaches 140 this week despite the hiatus due to
the municipal elections.
The Resolution Warrior, Len Mason, from Local 737 (Thunder Bay Jail)
has snagged the Township of Percy (near Warkworth). Hopefully, with the
new councils getting down to business, resolutions will start pouring in.
Keep up the pressure, Len!
For campaign information, call Don Ford (ext. 442) or Carol Whitehead
(ext. 356) at
1-800-268-7376 or (416) 443-8888. e-mail: dford@opseu.org
or cwhitehead@opseu.org
Ontario Public Service Employees Union
100 Lesmill Road, Toronto, Ontario M3B 3P8
www.opseu.org
opseu@opseu.org
Original authorized for distribution by Leah Casselman, president.
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