NEWS RELEASE
Correctional Officers to Hold Province-Wide Demonstration Tomorrow
For Immediate Release:
Thursday, November 12, 2015
ST. JOHN’S, NL– Workers with Her Majesty’s Penitentiary (HMP), who are members of the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees (NAPE), will be holding a demonstration tomorrow to voice their concerns about working conditions, health and safety matters, and ongoing issues with management. Correctional Officers across the province will be joining these workers in support and solidarity at their respective facilities.
Date: Friday, November 13
Time: 12:00 p.m.
Location: Her Majesty’s Penitentiary, St. John’s
“For years, our members at HMP have been dealing with escalating acts and threats of violence, riots, gang related activity, a crumbling infrastructure, and postponements of a new correctional facility,” said NAPE President Jerry Earle. “As if this wasn’t enough, management has recently taken a heavy handed approach to dealing with the staff at the facility – an approach which might contravene the collective agreement.”
“All of these factors have contributed to a poisoned and incredibly stressful and unsafe work environment,” continued Earle. “Things have reached a boiling point and the workers felt that there was no other alternative than to have a public demonstration.”
Correctional officers are using tomorrow’s demonstration to bring their concerns regarding the health, safety, and protection of themselves, inmates, visitors, and volunteers to the public’s attention.
– 30 –
For further information, please contact:
Keith Dunne, NAPE Campaigns and Communications Coordinator
(phone) 709.570.2501 (cell) 709.631.9737 (email) kdunne@nape.ca
