Staffing crisis prompts protests at B.C. correctional centres

'Jeopardizing safety in provincial prisons.' – BCGEU president George Heyman

Vancouver (1 Feb. 2008) - B.C. correctional officers staged legal protests in front of three correctional facilities this week - the Vancouver Island Regional Correctional Centre in Victoria, the Fraser Regional Correctional Centre in Maple Ridge and the North Fraser Pretrial Centre in Port Coquitlam.

Security at these facilities was not compromised in any way by protests. However, the same cannot be said of inaction by the Campbell government on staffing shortages in
B.C. jails and court houses.

"Correctional officers are frustrated and angered by the provincial government's rejection last week of a union proposal to address the recruitment and retention crisis that is
jeopardizing safety in provincial prisons," says George Heyman, president of the British Columbia Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU/NUPGE).

The sheriff services branch is experiencing a similar staffing crisis that threatens court room security and is delaying court proceedings.

15% resigned last year

The BCGEU represents approximately 1,400 correctional officers and 420 sheriffs. Over the last few years correctional officers and sheriffs have been leaving the service in
high numbers for jobs with other law enforcement agencies. About 15% of correctional officers and sheriffs quit last year.

The province has responded to these acute staffing shortages with an excessive reliance on overtime.

"The BCGEU presented to government last year detailed information on staffing, overtime costs and a national wage comparisons with other law enforcement agencies,"
Heyman notes. "We showed that B.C. sheriffs and corrections are far down the list."

The union has proposed a salary increase that would have begun to close the gap and address the problem. The government has rejected the proposal, showing a lack of
respect for the work correctional officers and sheriffs perform, the union argues.

"It says government doesn't care if experienced staff leave for higher paying jobs. It is out of touch with current labour market conditions. It is a short sighted mistake." NUPGE