Information picket planned for Treatment Centre gate Tuesday
Monday, September 10, 2012 by: SooToday.com Staff
NEWS RELEASE
OPSEU
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Correctional staff to hold information rally
SAULT STE. MARIE - OPSEU Local 678, Algoma Treatment and Remand Centre, will hold an information picket outside the main gate of the institution to show support and bring awareness to the North about the current lockdown situation at the Hamilton-Wentworth Detention Centre.
Date
Tuesday, September 11
Time
Noon
Location
800 Great Northern Road, Sault Ste. Marie
On August 13, 2012, correctional officers at the Hamilton-Wentworth Detention Centre had the right to wear their personal protective vests during a weapons search revoked by the facility’s management.
Since then, the correctional officers have been showing up for work every day, but have not been permitted to enter the building without suffering loss of pay and being subjected to discipline from the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services (MCSCS).
In late August, OPSEU agreed to have the matter settled by an arbitrator, but the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services refused the offer. Close to twenty attempts have been made to resolve the issue and all have been rejected.
On Friday, September 7, 2012, the MCSCS filed an illegal strike application against OPSEU Local 248 at the facility.
A date at the Ontario Labour Relation Board will be set this week.
OPSEU Local 678 wants the public to know that this is not an issue confined to the Hamilton-Wentworth region.
This is an issue that affects all correctional institutions in the province and deserves equal awareness and attention to the matter to us here in the North.
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