/R E P E A T -- MEDIA ADVISORY - OPSEU president to tour Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre Dec. 18; news conference to follow/

LONDON, ON, Dec. 17, 2015 /CNW/ - The president of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union announced today he will tour the Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre on Dec. 18. The correctional facility in London suffers from severe understaffing and overcrowding and has been the site of several inmate confrontations with staff over the past several years.

"This week I toured the Thunder Bay District Jail where a riot took place a week earlier," said Thomas, whose union represents more than 6,000 correctional staff across the province. "Regrettably, the EMDC has witnessed too many disturbances in recent years and my tour will give me a first-hand look at conditions inside which have led to these incidents."

Deputy premier and London North Centre MPP Deb Matthews has declined an invitation from Thomas to join him on the tour, a move which he termed, "deeply regrettable and an avoidance of responsibility." MPPs Peggy Sattler (London West) and Teresa Armstrong (London-Fanshawe) and a representative for MPP Jeff Yurek (Elgin-Middlesex-London) will join Thomas on the tour, along with local OPSEU leaders and EMDC's superintendent of operations.

A news conference will be held outside the EMDC immediately following the tour

Details
Date:	Friday Dec. 18
Time:	9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. (est.) News conference to follow
Location:	Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre, 711 Exeter Road, London

SOURCE Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU)

Greg Hamara, OPSEU Communications, Tel: [phone]