Ottawa correctional officers prepare for 'long, nasty strike'

Correctional officers at the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre are protesting asthe province installsportable living quarters for managersoutside the jail as a contingency plan for a looming strike.

Correctional officers across the province have been without a contract for more than a year and will be in a legal strike position at 12:01 a.m. on Sunday after the latest round of negotiations were unsuccessful. Contract talks are expected to resume Friday.

The delivery of all these strike quartersthey're prepared for a long and nasty strike,and so are we.- Correctional officerNicolasBeauchamp

A report released last fall describespoor condition at theOttawa-Carleton Detention Centre, including spoiled food and frequent lockdowns prompted byunderstaffing and overcrowding.

A dozen off-duty officerspicketedoutside the jail Tuesday to block the arrival of20-metre-long trailers containing kitchens and beds that are beingtrucked in for managers in case of a strike. By noon, eight trucks carrying the portables were onsite.

"It makes it real," saidNicolasBeauchamp, who has has been a correctional officer for eightyears. "It shows that they're, obviously, ready and thatthey bargained for a strike. The delivery of all these strike quarters they're prepared for a long and nasty strike, and so are we."

Concerns over lockdowns, rising tensions

Beauchampsaidprovincial correctionalofficers deserve a 10 per centwage hike to give them parity with their federal counterparts.He added that they should be declared first responders like police and firefighters.

• Ottawa jail guard shortage causing 'burn out': union
• OCDCcuts security corners due to staff shortage: union
• Ottawa jail serves 'soggy, spoiled' food to inmates:report

Beauchamp said staff shortagesand repeated lockdowns for the jail's550 inmates will only escalate if inexperienced managers take over.

During lockdowns, inmates can be kept in their cells for lengthy periods of time, their access toshowers and phones can be limited, andscheduled programs andprofessional and personal visits can be cancelled.

"The tension in the jail rises because it's on lockdown and inmates, they'refrustrated because they don't get to see their loved ones, they don't have access to the phone," he said."I've been assaulted myself. It's about public safety because these people will get out."