Week of August 13
The dispute began when our correctional officers
reported a metal object missing from the facility. This metal object
could potentially have been fashioned into a weapon or other dangerous
device. Correctional officers asked that they be allowed to wear
protective vests when conducting a cell-by-cell search for the metal
object. Management denied this request
Our correctional officers said they would not
conduct the search without protective gear. Management responded by
stopping them from reporting for duty. Subsequently, management
personnel were brought in to HWDC from other facilities across Ontario
to perform the duties of our correctional officers. Two managers have
since been injured by inmates.
Managers who have worked as replacements of our
members have been allowed to wear their protective vests.
Week of August 20
At HWDC, they are practicing rotational lock-down,
meaning inmates have limited use of showers and other privileges such as
phone use. All programming has been suspended. Negotiations during this
week did produce an agreement on health and safety. However, management
insisted on imposing a ‘no work, no pay’ penalty and other disciplinary
measures for the time our correctional officers were denied access to
their duties. As the impasse continued our members have not been
allowed to report to duty.
An Information rally was staged outside HWDC on
Aug. 23.
Week of August 27
On Monday, Aug. 27 hundreds of Correctional
Officers from all over the province demonstrated at Queen’s Park. There
was considerable news coverage and support from Opposition MPPs at the
rally. Dan Sidsworth, Chair of the OPSEU Corrections MERC and President
Warren (“Smokey”) Thomas lead a delegation into the legislature where
they met with Madeleine Meilleur, Minister of Community Safety and
Correctional Services who assured them of a further meeting to resolve
the issue. The MERC and representatives from Local 248 continued to meet
all week.
Correctional Officers have been bargaining in good
faith from day one of this dispute. In spite of their efforts,
management has broken off negotiations. By doing so, the employer is
preventing members from working in a safe workplace without reprisals.
On Wednesday, August 29, the Union was left with no
choice but to withdraw from the Ministry Employee Relations Committee,
including all MERC sub-committees (but excluding the Health and Safety
Committee).
