Sudbury jail workers protest 'dangerous' working conditions

About a dozen corrections officers at the jail in Sudbury, Ont. rallied in the rain on Thursday to express their frustration over what they call an unsafe workplace.

The 95 staff at the jail have been without a contract since November 2014,and this weektheir union rejected a proposedcontract from the province.

The jail guards are working in dangerousconditions, in a building plagued by mice, leaky walls, and bad air quality, said Nathan Aubin, president of the Sudbury chapter of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, and an employee at the facility.

"We have mice. A significant mice population. Probably more mice than we have offenders," said Aubin.

"And the solutions being presented to us are Band-Aidtype solutions."

Workers are also strugglingto deal with violent offenders, andmentally ill inmates, said Aubin. He said training and staff levels are not adequate to deal with the situation.

"Violence in institutions is there and it's always been there," but cuts to staffing havecaused work to become "dangerous," he said.

Aubinsaid that correctional workers are not considered an essential service, so in the case of astrike administration and staff would have to keep working without the protection of guards.

In a statement, the province said it was disappointed with the union's rejection of its proposed contract.

The Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services said it remains committed to the collective bargaining process andis now considering next steps.