Hamilton youth jail emptied to prepare for lockout

All of the teens at a residential detention centre in Hamilton have been moved to jails in other cities as the not-for-profit organization that runs Arrell Youth Centre prepared to lock out its staff at midnight Friday.

“We cannot expose them to any sort of labour dispute,” said Kim Ciavarella, CEO of Banyan. “The well-being and safety of these youth are paramount.”

Most of the 16 young men who were moved stayed in the west region, which includes London, Guelph and Niagara. But three did have to go to the east region, which stretches as far as Kingston.

“They are quite a distance away from their homes,” said Len Mancini, Ontario Public Service Employees Union Local 216 bargaining chair for the centre. “It will affect them greatly. They have all their community supports and family supports close by here. A lot of times they are from marginalized families so it will be difficult for the parents to visit now.”

The centre at 320 Anchor Rd. near Stone Church Road East and Dartnall Road houses young men convicted or accused of serious crimes.

The Ministry of Children and Youth Services, which funds the centre, said in a statement Friday that it hopes the union and Banyan “do all that they can to reach a successful resolution.”

“We want young people to access the services they need, when they need them and as close to home as possible,” said the statement. “The protection and well-being of youth and staff is our main priority.”

Banyan and the union had a “marathon” negotiating session April 24 that “didn’t end well,” said Mancini.

At the heart of the dispute is who should pay for the rising cost of benefits. Banyan wants staff to cover 20 per cent of the costs of benefit premiums and take a reduced package.

“There was a very fair deal on the table,” said Ciavarella. “Over the last three years, our benefit costs have increases over 50 per cent. We’re trying to as best manage those costs...”

The union said it was the last straw for 60 staff without Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) coverage and pay the entire cost of their long-term disability. “To pay more money off of our paycheque for things we normally didn’t pay for in the past was a tough pill to swallow for our members,” said Mancini.