March 19th – National President David Neufeld and RVP Bill Bailey visited Collins Bay Institution in Kingston, Ontario to tour the medium-security site, meet with USJE members and connect with the Warden.
Collins Bay Institution first opened in 1930 as a medium-security facility under the name “Preferred Class Penitentiary (Ontario)”. On April 1, 2013, Collins Bay Institution and Frontenac Institution, a minimum-security facility built in 1962, amalgamated as a clustered site. In addition, effective January 2015, Collins Bay Institution opened a maximum-security unit. Following the closure of Kingston Penitentiary in September 2013 Collins Bay Institution has become the oldest operational federal male correctional facility in the Ontario region.
Collins Bay Institution is a clustered facility with a minimum site based on a residential design model, a medium-security site based on a linear design model and a maximum-security site with reduced movement out of the unit.
National President Neufeld and RVP Bailey were greeted by Local President Tim Nolan and Local Vice-President Kim Staley. The USJE visit began with an open meeting with USJE members at the medium security institution. The meeting provided the opportunity for the USJE representatives to give an update on the many ongoing USJE campaigns (Presumptive Injury, Food Service Officer Campaign, Hybrid/Telework Work Campaign) and the new Budget Cuts Campaign. It also allowed for dialogue with the members on issues that were of concern to them which included increasing workloads, the desire for a flexible and nuanced approach to hybrid work and ongoing Phoenix pay issues.
The USJE members shared that Collins Bay is witnessing a significant increase in the inmate population and concerns were raised regarding the staffing levels in case management. Many concerns were also shared regarding the growing number of “add ons” that continue to be imposed on case management practices and how they are affecting staff’s ability to manage mounting workloads. National President Neufeld was able to provide an update on the CSC’s Parole Officer Workload Review and the work being done to build resourcing tools that are not based on the “lean method” and accounts for the time needed to work with inmates and offenders both in the institutions and the community.
President Neufeld also took some time to share an update on the next round of collective bargaining and the success that USJE experienced at the recent PSAC National Bargaining Conference in securing 6 bargaining team positions among the four bargaining units. The members were encouraged to stay informed about the next round of bargaining and to get involved in their local’s activities.
After the open meeting and as time allowed, the USJE representatives were given a thorough tour which included stops in the Stores area, Correctional Programs, Inmate Pay and the kitchen.
In ongoing support of USJE’s Food Service Officer Campaign, time was spent speaking and connecting with USJE members in the Food Service Department. Unfortunately, this visit was very similar to many of the other visits President Neufeld has made to CSC kitchens across the country. Issues around staffing shortages, health and safety, broken equipment and pay issues are very persistent. USJE plans to raise these concerns with CSC within the context of USJE’s ongoing FOS campaign and at the appropriate levels of the organization.
USJE members at Collins Bay Institution are proud to be employees of CSC and their pride extends to their contributions to public safety. President Neufeld and RVP Bailey wish to thank all of the members who took the time to meet and share their working conditions at CBI. A big thank you goes out to Local President Tim Nolan and Local Vice-President Kim Staley as well for their support during this site visit. Furthermore, USJE would like to thank Warden Christine Anderson for being so welcoming and giving the USJE union representatives the opportunity to raise concerns and observations with her, tour the facilities and speak with USJE members.