The OPSEU president representing corrections officers at the Kenora Jail is stressing that if the current circumstances aren't addressed, the facility could see a riot like the one last week in Thunder Bay.
James Nowe said the atmosphere at the Kenora jail is the worst he has ever seen. In the past few years, inmate levels at the jail have tripled but there have been no changes to staffing. As a result, Nowe says only one officer is being sent to lockdown up to 23 inmates, putting workers in danger every day.
The OPSEU correctional service group recently voted 67 percent to reject a new deal from the province. Nowe said that if these issues aren't addressed soon, things are only going to get worse and the Thunder Bay Jail riot situation, could easily happen again.
The two sides will be back at the bargaining table this Friday. Nowe adds that if a deal isn't reached soon, a strike could be seen as early as mid-January.
(THUNDER BAY TELEVISION
