DON’T PRIVATIZE

Food services are being privatized in provincial jails and young offender facilities. It’s another attack on workers by our provincial government in its privatization frenzy.

Just last month, Premier Brad Wall had the NDP leader between a wall (literally) and FSIN chiefs over repealing the law that protects Crown corporations so that casinos could be sold to First Nations.

There are many other cases. In 2013 hospital laundry services were privatized, affecting the jobs of more than 300 people and making the service inefficient. The laundry now has to be collected from hospitals in all corners of Saskatchewan and driven to a private company in Regina, cleaned and then taken back.

Three years ago, the booking of camping spaces in provincial parks was privatized to a company in Ontario. The results have been disastrous, but I guess Ontario needed the jobs more than our people. The list goes on. There are multiple examples of prison food services being privatized across North America, with catastrophic consequences. Experience has shown that, to make a profit, private food services companies shrink portions, quality and employee wages and benefits.

Those who believe jails exist only to warehouse offenders might think that criminals don’t deserve nutritious food. But if we believe in rehabilitation, treating people decently is the first step. Also, drops in the quality and quantity of food have resulted in riots.

Most food privatization in jails has resulted in increased costs, and some companies have systematically overbilled jails. We must pay close attention to what our government is doing. Say no to privatization. Ralph Ibanez Saskatoon