Ontario Public Service Employee Union members held a rally outside the Central North Correctional Centre in Penetanguishene Friday as part of a province-wide campaign against privatization.
Conservative leader Patrick Brown spoke at the event that was attended by a small crowd of corrections workers and union reps.
"We're in front of corrections because this is one of the prime examples where the government ran this as a private organization and before the contract was finished they realized it was better and safer for the public so they put it back in public hands," said OPSEU Local 329 President Pete Sheehan.
"The We Own It program to try to get public support to keep our services in the public hands where they belong."
OPSEU is funding the roving initiative which is in its second year.
The union cited a 'long list of privatization disasters' in the province - 'from Walkerton, to the gas plants, to today's soaring hydro rates.'
"We have about 25,000 people that have signed on to the campaign," said Eddy Almeida, Vice President and Treasurer of OPSEU.
"This isn't just about OPSEU."
OPSEU represents approximately 130,000 members across Ontario.
The rally included free hamburgers, sausages and soft drinks and donations were accepted for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Midland.
