October
27, 2000
Missed…by a hair
It seems that the inmate haircut story just won’t go away.
Corrections Minister Rob Sampson’s announcement of an inmate grooming
policy two weeks ago is still causing a stir in the media. Calls are still
coming in from newspapers and radio stations that find the issue just too
hard to resist.
Even members of the public are shaking their heads in disbelief. Last
Sunday, the Toronto Star featured three letters to the editor
commenting on the Ministry plan. Here are some excerpts:
"The idea is utter madness. Too many inmates will be enraged by
the new rule, but it is union staff and prison management who will be left
to cope with that rage in a workplace that is already a high-stress
situation. Rehabilitation indeed!"
"Come on, minister, fess up – this is exerting control for
political gain, not concern for offenders’ rehabilitation."
"There must be other things in this province we should be worrying
about other than providing free short back and sides for hirsute
inmates."
"Are there no men in jail with short hair?"
"As opposed to blaming long hair as the cause of inmates’
behaviour, why don’t we put a proper training program in place so that
if and when these people get out they have some meaningful insight as to
what they must do for them to survive and not get into trouble
again?"
It is of note that none of these letter-writers work in corrections.
So, is the Ministry going to implement this plan? The Global TV
report stated that the grooming policy was to go into effect by the end of
this month. In fact, there were even rumours that Sampson was going to
stage a photo opportunity of getting his own hair cut alongside an inmate.
Funny, Rob, we’ve never noticed your ponytail before.
Escort complaint awaiting decision
Final arguments were wrapped up on Thursday, Oct. 26 in the OPSEU
complaint on inmate escorts. OPSEU filed charges at the Ontario Labour
Relations Board (OLRB) after the Ministry of Correctional Services reneged
on an agreement that placed a two-year moratorium on privatized escorts.
The Ministry signed the moratorium agreement with OPSEU on July 18 and
then tried to back out four hours later when government officials realized
that the agreement did not exclude Penetanguishene in the event it’s
privatized. The union’s interpretation of the agreement was that even if
Penetang was privatized, union employees would still have to provide the
escorts. OPSEU filed the charges after the Ministry included escort duties
under private operator responsibilities in the Penetanguishene Request For
Qualifications.
In the Ministry’s submission to the OLRB, the claim is made that
there was never any intent to include Penetanguishene in the moratorium.
Some of the reasoning is convoluted at best.
One of the strangest excuses that’s used to prove that the union is
being unreasonable was this: "OPSEU employees would have to be
sitting, doing nothing, waiting for the possibility of a community escort
to arise." It is odd that the Ministry finds this unreasonable, when
that is the same instructions they give to unclassifieds who are trying to
get shifts.
Barry Scanlon, chair of the OPSEU Corrections Ministry Employee
Relations Committee, was pleased with the proceedings.
"Our lawyer presented a very clear, concise and well-written
case," Scanlon said. "We are hoping for a favorable
decision."
How Straight will this Talk be?
After years of doing nothing, and after 52 editions of Lock Talk, the
Ministry is now issuing it’s own information bulletin called Straight
Talk.
While promising to provide employees with up-to-date information, it’s
obvious that it doesn’t extend as far as the union.
"We are continually asking for the Human Resource plans for the
upcoming jail closures, and the Ministry refuses to give them to us,"
said Barry Scanlon. "I don’t have high expectations that I will
learn anything new in this information sheet."
Perhaps maybe we’ll just wait for the video.
You don’t have to be crazy, but it helps
Corrections Minister Rob Sampson did get a vote of confidence this week
for his privatization plans. Simcoe North MPP Garfield Dunlop (PC)
presented a petition to the legislature that asked for a facility to be
privatized.
Names on the petition belonged to the patients of Penetanguishene Oak
Ridges Mental Health Centre – for the criminally insane.
Draw your own conclusions here.
Privatization signs available on the web
Corrections Critic David Levac has made available "Fact"
signs on prison privatization. They are available for download on the
OPSEU site.
If you would like to print and display these signs, go to:
http://www.opseu.org/ops/ministry/correctionsindex.htm
Resolution watch
The resolution count hits 125 this week thanks to the Resolution
Warrior, Len Mason, from Local 737 (Thunder Bay Jail), and Local 252
(Niagara D.C.) president Blaine Warden. Len has gotten the Township of Val
Rita-Harty (east of Kapuskasing), the Township of St. Vincent (near
Meaford), and the Township of Armstrong and the Town of Charlton (both
north of New Liskeard). Blaine’s persistence paid off this week as the
City of St. Catharines reversed an earlier decision and voted in support
of publicly run correctional services. Great work, guys.
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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