NSGEU says key N.S. correctional issues not yet resolved

Meeting with justice minister on terms of reference for independent audit of facilities in Nova Scotia

Halifax (18 April 2008) - The Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union (NSGEU/NUPGE) says key issues affecting its correctional service members have not been resolved despite a meeting with the province's justice minister.

Union president Joan Jessome and other NSGEU officials met this week with Justice Minister Cecil Clark and Marian Tyson, his deputy minister. They discussed "proposed terms of reference for the independent external audit" of correctional facilities in the province.

"We received a commitment from the minister that the external audit team will meet with us early in its work," Jessome said.

"However, the minister could not give us any commitments about our members’ significant concerns with inadequate staffing or the risks faced by members in escorting offenders in the community. Similarly, while the minister said he was committed to building long overdue new facilities in Amherst and Antigonish, he could not give us a firm date when this will begin.”

Jessome said the union was pleased that the minister did not agree with opinions expressed by the province's executive director of correctional services.

“The minister was very clear that he saw a definite distinction between contract negotiations, which have not been going on for ten months, and our members’ major concerns about safety inside and outside correctional facilities," Jessome said.

"We have no disagreement with the broad scope of the terms of reference for the audit. However, our members are not prepared to wait three to six months for its final recommendations to be released. We want to see some concrete steps taken on adequate staffing and on improved safety within and outside the facilities as well as definite commitments to proceed with two new facilities."

Jessome said the minister assured the union of a quick response to the concerns put forward. "We plan to continue our pressure on him and the government until our members’ concerns are fully addressed,” she added. NUPGE