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The 13 memorial crosses erected outside London’s jail — a daily reminder of death in their workplace — are taking a mental and emotional toll on employees, their union leader says.

But they’re “too hot of a political issue” for the province to touch, said Janet Laverty, president of Local 108 of the Ontario Public Services Employees Union.

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“The staff at the Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre (EMDC) understand and respect the needs of the families of those who have passed in our care. We respect the need to grieve, we respect the need for answers and we respect the need to demand change,” Laverty said.

But seeing the crosses and names of the dead inmates every day is triggering trauma, and causing mental health issues, especially to those who knew the inmates and those called upon to save their lives, Laverty said.

“I have had many members approach me regarding the impact they are experiencing seeing that reminder twice daily going to and from work. I share these concerns, as I myself have been a first responder to more then one of those incidents,” Laverty said in an email response to questions from The Free Press.