Ottawa prison guards refuse to work due to lack of COVID-19 screening

Ryan Graham, local president of the Ontario Civil Service Union, said the union is pressing the Secretary-General for COVID-19 screening measures for those seeking to enter state prisons.

According to the union, Ottawa prison guards refused to work on Tuesday morning because of fear of COVID-19 because there was no screening of prisoners.

Some prisoners told the newspaper Tuesday that they had been rejected for testing and that tensions were rising in the infamous Ines Road prison.

Inmates are worried that the virus is already in prison, but since it has not been tested, no one knows for sure.

Prisoners detained Tuesday were fed by a manager and their video conference with a lawyer was canceled.

Ryan Graham, local president of the Ontario Civil Service Union, said security guards refused to enter jail on Tuesday and were working to seek COVID-19 screening measures for those unions attempting to enter state jails. He said he was putting pressure on the President.

Graham said immediate action was needed to prevent both the guards and detainees from entering the new coronavirus. He said the manager had performed the duties of guards on Tuesday afternoon until the remedial workers returned to work.

The COVID-19 virus has already entered prisons in Ontario, including the largest prison in Ontario, the Toronto Southern Detention Center.

The first COVID-19-positive prisoner in Ontario is inspected before being imprisoned at the Toronto South Detention Center and hospitalized even after public health officials warn staff that it has identified a potential case Did.

Etobicoke Prison is the second largest prison in Canada, with about 1,500 inmates.

Some security guards in other Ontario prisons have also responded positively, including external contractors and employees who have transferred inmates to various courts.

The ministry stated that it would take all measures to ensure a safe workplace for its employees, and said in a statement “admitted that some orthodontists at the Ottawa Carlton Detention Center have exercised the right to refuse work. Following the normal resolution process, the ministry continues to work with the Ministry of Labor to address the situation. “

This is the second time a prison guard has refused to work due to security concerns. The first time, all prison inmates refused to meet lawyers, even by video or telephone.

A guard told lawyers that the legal visit had been canceled due to the pandemic’s health problems.

Video and telephone calls require guards to handle the equipment and be mostly close to prisoners awaiting trial.

Ottawa Prison is currently operating with approximately 200% inmates and approximately 57% capacity.

“This denies the fundamental concept of equity, especially when extraordinary decisions are being made regarding the health and safety of those currently held at correctional facilities,” says Lam. Was.

Brentros, spokesman for the Secretary-General of the Secretary, said guards and inmates were being told to wash their hands and practice coughing and sneezing etiquette.

“If an outbreak occurs or is suspected, facility personnel will take immediate precautionary measures in accordance with operating procedures, including notification to local medical officers and state health professionals,” said Ross. States.

Prisoners who called this newspaper from two separate areas say that they all had been jailed on Tuesday and spent listening to Magic 100.3

To date, there have been no reports of cases in Ottawa Prison, but the government has not yet reported any inspection in prisons. The same is true for other prisons in which inmates and staff responded positively.

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