Corrections officers and union reps in North Bay rally for a new contract
Around a dozen correctional officers and union representatives spent part of Friday picketing in front of the North Bay Jail as contract negotiations with the Ontario government are about to restart.
The union is asking the province to eliminate Bill 124, while also fixing what they describe as a "toxic management culture" in the jail system.
"While we're trying to keep our inmates safe and healthy, it's creating more work for us which is not being compensated," said North Bay Jail corrections officer Timothy Sullivan, while out on the picket line.
The union's bargaining team is back at the table this weekend with the Ministry of The Solicitor General, after delays because of the Ontario election. Their contract has been up for quite some time.
"We want what's fair. Our job is very challenging,” said OPSEU Local 616 chief steward Angie Sutherland.
“So not a lot of people in the public understand how challenging it is to work in corrections."
The union said the toxic management culture and an already stressful work environment was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Things are constantly changing and we're just being thrown into the middle of it,” said corrections officer Nolan Ladouceur.
“The frustrations and tensions are higher as the rules change throughout the jail."
The union is also demanding Bill 124, a 2019 law that limits wage increases at one per cent for public sector workers, be scrapped to compensate for rising inflation.
"Right now, morale is very low," said Sutherland.
"Corrections took a bit hit during the pandemic and we've been working tirelessly."
In a statement to CTV News, Ontario’s Treasury Board Secretariat said the government respects the role correctional officers and other employees play in keeping communities safe.
“Negotiations are ongoing, with the intent to reach an agreement that is fair for all parties,” spokesperson Kyle Richardson wrote in an email.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
WATCH Video shows dramatic police takedown of carjacking suspects chased through parking lot north of Toronto
Police have released video footage of a dramatic takedown of a group of teens wanted in connection with an attempted carjacking in Markham earlier this month.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
WHO likely to issue wider alert on contaminated cough syrup
The World Health Organization is likely to issue a wider warning about contaminated Johnson and Johnson-made children's cough syrup found in Nigeria last week, it said in an email.
Advocacy groups speak out against domestic violence comments by Nova Scotia minister
Several Nova Scotia groups that assist women are speaking out against comments on domestic violence by Justice Minister Brad Johns, and at least one is calling for his dismissal.
A couple lost their wedding rings during the ceremony. Two strangers found a fitting solution
Every good wedding has to have one teensy, tiny crisis.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.