Union decries lack of consultation in NSCC amalgamation
President has concerns about how changes will affect staffing and security
John McFadden
Northern News Services
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
While admitting the number of inmates at the North Slave Young Offenders Facility is low, the Union of Northern Workers (UNW) said it is opposed to the way the government is slashing positions at the facility and transferring them to the adjacent North Slave Correctional Centre (NSCC).
The Union of Northern Workers says it was not consulted on the amalgamation of the North Slave Young Offenders Facility, pictured here, with the adjacent North Slave Correctional Centre for adults. The government said it is merging the two facilities to save money and because the low number of inmates at the youth facility makes it feasible. - photo courtesy of Department of Justice
|
Todd Parsons, union president, said he is concerned because staffing levels will drop from about 25 positions to 14 and some vacancies at the youth facility are not being filled.
Parsons also said the union was never really consulted ahead of time about the proposed amalgamation of the two facilities.
"The union is really opposed to what the employer is doing in this situation. It's unlikely that they'll be able to run that facility with 14 people effectively and maintain the security needs and the safety requirements to operate in the youth facility," Persons said. "Our members are puzzled as to how this can be successful."
Parsons said the staff cuts will result in inmates at the youth facility being locked down for longer periods of time and they will receive less counselling.
"The decision to amalgamate the youth justice facility with the adult offenders is the best kept secret that I have seen. This is a senior bureaucrat decision. It was not done in consultation with management at the facility. Senior bureaucrats with the GNWT are running the show," Parsons said.
The youth facility opened in January 2003. It has 25 beds in total.
"The number of beds in the facility was based on the need at that time," stated Marie-Eve Duperre, Justice Department spokesperson, in an e-mail to Yellowknifer. "No one could predict the impact that the (Youth Criminal Justice Act) would have on the youth custody numbers."
The new act brought changes that meant judges had to explore other custody options for youth who go through the criminal justice system besides the youth correctional centre.
The number of youth inmates has been mostly steadily declining since it opened. The facility housed 19 inmates on average in 2005/06. That number has fallen to just three in 2015/16.
Director of Corrections Robert Riches said the low inmate numbers at the youth facility made the amalgamation feasible. He added the streamlining would save the GNWT about $1.1 million annually. The Justice Department does not agree with the UNW that it was left out of the process.
"Through the course of work on reductions, the GNWT has ensured the UNW has information on changes that involve their members. Specific information and details on the change in the staffing model for North Slabe Young Offenders facility was provided to the UNW," Duperre stated. "In addition, the UNW attended the meeting with employees at (the young offenders facility) when employees were advised of the new staffing model."
She added that amalgamation plans are moving forward and because this involves cross training of staff, the merger will not go ahead until it is safe to do so.
