Province to pay replacement workers double-time-and-a-half, ignore safety policy

SUDBURY, Jan. 7, 2016 /CNW/ - Replacement workers in the province's jails will be paid overtime at double-time-and-a-half and allowed to violate safety policies in the event of a work stoppage by frontline correctional staff, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union has learned.

According to a document obtained by the Ottawa Citizen, the government will let managers, many of whom are from outside of correctional services, bring laptops, DVDs, and cell phones into jails across the province. Under current safety policy, correctional staff are not permitted to use any electronics while on the job.

"In an effort to appease untrained replacement managers, the government is ignoring its own safety policies," OPSEU Local 617 President Nathan Aubin said. "The millions of public dollars they are ready to spend on overtime is appalling when you look at the shape of these decrepit old jails. That money needs to be spent on getting the buildings up to par to ensure the safety of staff and inmates."

OPSEU represents approximately 6,000 frontline correctional staff in institutions and probation offices across the province. They will be in a legal strike or lockout position at 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, January 10.

SOURCE Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU)

Nathan Aubin [phone]