/R E P E A T -- Media Advisory - OPSEU president and NDP leader to tour HWDC February 8 to witness the "crisis in corrections"/

HAMILTON, ON, Feb. 6, 2016 /CNW/ - Warren (Smokey) Thomas, president of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, will be joined by provincial NDP leader Andrea Horwath on February 8 to get a firsthand look at the crisis in correctional services and its impact on the Hamilton-Wentworth Detention Centre (HWDC).

"I am delighted that Andrea and some of her MPPs from the Hamilton-Niagara region have accepted my invitation to join us when we tour the facility," said Thomas. "We have been in the forefront of bringing the crisis in correctional services to the public's attention for some time now. This is a public safety issue and I'm pleased both opposition parties and leaders have been very supportive of our efforts to expose the crisis."

Like most detention centres in Ontario, HWDC has been plagued with operational shortcomings for many years, including overcrowding and chronic understaffing. Lockdowns are routine and not the exception. Incidents of violence occur.

Thomas and Horwath will begin their tour at 9 a.m. and it will end at approximately 10:30 a.m. A news conference will be held outside the HWDC immediately following the tour.

Details
Date:	Monday, February 8, 2016
Time:	9:00 – 10:30 a.m. (estimated). News conference to follow
Location:	Hamilton-Wentworth Detention Centre, 165 Barton Street E., Hamilton

SOURCE Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU)

Bill Gillies, OPSEU Communications Officer, 416-807-2427