OPSEU LOCAL 719

Workers Side -   Glen Archer, Peter Cann, Harvey Dyck. Alternate - Keith Bingham

Employers Side - Mike Goold, Mark Dyrland

Highlights of the July 22, 2009 meeting:

Old items were addressed, some new items were brought up.

The workers side requested that an overview of the curent policy requiring handcuffing of inmates while armed police are in the yard be conducted. Seeing as this policy was only implemnted two days prior to this meeting it was agreed to monitor this further before reporting. See further info below....

 The workers side also requested to receive information on the status of Community Escort training and re-certification and in particular the shelf-life of the vests. We would hope that the management of the jail would ensure that the staff receive all the necessary and required training and protective equipment in the appropriate time frames. We have been advised that as soon as our in-house trainers return from their current assignment with Bell Cairn we will get all required training happening again. Management agrees to monitor the situation with the vests

We also forwarded our concerns about the lack of training for the delivery of emergency oxygen. Management advised that there are currently 3 officers at the jail with the necessary training as well as the nurses. In discussion with the head trainer at St.John it appears that our nurses are not accredited to deliver emergency portable oxygen, only the fixed  hospital type. St.John has advised that they may have a stand-alone course for this starting in the fall and management has offered the opinion that they will facilitate the training.

We have agreed to meet again in September. Date to be agreed upon.

Staff are reminded that if they have any emergency concerns about their Health & Safety they are to contact their Manager immediately.         

 Non-emergency matters can be forwarded, in writing preferably, to any member of the H&S Committee.

Management in consultation with the former Kenora Police Service and the recently activated city OPP has instituted a new policy requiring Correctional Officers to have inmates in handcuffs while leaving and arriving at the institution whilst police officers have firearms upon their persons.

The workers side of the committe would like to remind the workers that this policy was not requested by or condoned by us. This is simply a reaction to a grievance submitted (and resubmitted) about Correctional Officer safety when police enter our admitting yard wearing guns.

It is imperative that Correctional Officers abide with this new directive fully. This means NO SHORTCUTS. If the ministry and the police have implemented this policy for our safety we should make sure we follow the policy to the letter. It only makes sense. We ask that all Correctional Officers, not only Admitting Staff, ensure that any inmate movement to and from the Admitting Yard is done only after we have ascertained that attending police are not armed with firearms. This includes transfers, transport to other facilties (ie hospitals/Psych assessments) and not just court movement.

All placing of restraints and removal of same should be done in a secure area, namely the bullpens in A&D. If staff start shortcutting and circumventing the process to facilitate the speed of getting inmates in and out of the building we are not doing enough to ensure our health and safety.

Brothers and Sisters of Local 719,

I'd like to take this time to blow my own horn and let you know that as of the last OPSEU Divisionals Meeting held in Toronto in November 2008 I ran for a position on the Provincial Health & Safety Committee. I am proud to say that I was succesfully voted in as an alternate to the committee.

In solidarity,

Glen Archer