Talks break off at Barton jail

Talks broke off Friday between the union representing the jail guards at the Hamilton Wentworth Detention Centre and the Ministry of Correctional Services.

The union had warned they’d be bringing the fight directly to Queen’s Park and, on Monday, they will hold a rally planned for 10am.

Right now, two hundred corrections officers are out of work at the jail on Barton Street, while management is running the facility on a rotating lockdown schedule.

It all stems from the corrections officers’ desire to wear protective vests during searches of the building.

They were told “no”, prompting this labour dispute.

The rally at Queen’s Park at 10am on Monday will include members of the staff at jails across the province possibly in attendance.

Dan Sidsworth, the provincial chairman for OPSEU corrections said that he’s been in talks with union members from Milton, London, and will soon contact Kingston, Ottawa, even northern Ontario.

The unions are pushing for Corrections Minister Madeleine Meilleur to intervene.

But the Ministry won’t comment on their intentions just yet.