In response to recent allegations of inmate abuse occurring at the Winnipeg Remand Centre, MGEU President Lois Wales has sent the following letter to all of the MGEU's Corrections Officers:
Many of you may know by now through the media, that serious allegations have been made about the conduct of a group of corrections officers at the Winnipeg Remand Centre. The allegations involve inmate abuse and have resulted in significant disciplinary action being taken by Manitoba Justice. The Winnipeg Police Service is now conducting an investigation into what happened to determine whether criminal charges will be forthcoming. The Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union has attended numerous meetings with affected members and a number of grievances have been filed.
As events unfold, there may be additional media coverage that may attempt to paint corrections officers in a negative light. This would be an unfortunate, unwelcome, and unwarranted scenario. Corrections officers can and should be proud of the work they do on behalf of Manitobans each and every day, and as your union, we know the pride you take in contributing to keeping our communities safe and secure. We know the role you play is a dual role: to segregate sentenced and remanded persons as deemed necessary by the courts, but also to play a leadership role in helping rehabilitate inmates so that their transition back into our communities can be as successful as possible. As part of your jobs, there are times when corrections officers are called upon to exercise reasonable restraint in dealing with inmates. The vast majority of corrections officers understand when reasonable restraint is necessary.
Corrections services are at a crossroads, not just here in Manitoba, but across the country. There have no doubt been additional challenges placed upon correctional officers that have arisen over the past decade or so, and corrections officers as a whole have held up in the face of these challenges most admirably. Whether those challenges deal with chronic overcrowding, dealing effectively and humanely with the increasing numbers of inmates, dealing with mental health issues, separating and segregating the growing numbers of gangs and gang members in our jails, helping inmates through addictions issues, or dealing with your own rising levels of stress and job-related burn-out, corrections officers have shouldered the load that’s been placed upon them. Your successes in dealing with these additional challenges should not be forgotten or discounted by the media or the public as discussion about the recent incidents at the Remand Centre unfolds.
As the union, we will stand with Manitoba corrections officers as events take place in days to follow. And it’s important that we not prejudge the guilt or innocence of the corrections officers alleged to have been involved in this incident until investigations have been completed. What’s most important is that we stand together in our goal of improving working conditions, ensuring health and safety for officers, and fighting for equity and fairness in our contract.
Sincerely,
Lois Wales
MGEU President