Inmate kitchen workers catalyst of Sask. Pen riot: Union rep
The deadly riot at the Saskatchewan Penitentiary yesterday may have been started by kitchen workers, a union rep revealed.
James Bloomfield, a representative with the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers said the facility had been on a modified routine for several days prior to the riot due to issues with inmates working in the penitentiary kitchens.
“In this situation there [were] some issues with the kitchen workers, and the kitchen workers being inmates were refusing to go to work and were having some discussions over portions sizes,” Bloomfield said.
Yesterday the medium-security inmates were released from their cells to go to work and refused, Bloomfield said, which resulted in negotiators being called in.