The Saskatchewan Pentitentiary was one of many sittes across the country Wednesday where a labour related protest was held. (File photo/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Contract Talks

Frustrated by lack of contract, federal correctional officers stage rallies across the country

Sep 23, 2020 | 2:09 PM

Correctional officers at the country’s federal prisons have been without a contract for two years, and on Tuesday they came together in solidarity to show their employer they want their concerns addressed.

A nation-wide protest rally was held outside all the federal institutions, including Saskatchewan Penitentiary. James Bloomfield, the prairies regional president for the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers (UCCO), told paNOW outstanding issues include time alotted for leave.

“We have the highest PTSD rates and we can’t get annual leave,” Bloomfield said.

He added further to that injury on duty leave is another concern, to ensure when officers are hurt on the job, they are covered by their employer.

“And we are not just thrown off to the side based on budgets,” he said

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The protest rally at Saskatchewan Penitentiary was held from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. and the media was not told in advance. Bloomfield explained the timing for these types of events is very important.

“We have a very delicate work site that can be extremely explosive sometimes so we take all that into account when we try to send our messaging in this way and safety is always at the forefront for correctional officers,” he said.

A spokesperson for the Correctional Service of Canada emailed a statement to paNOW, in response to what they referred to as the information picket line at the Saskatchewan Penitentiary.

“CSC is guided by the Public Service Labour Relations Act and fully respects the rights of all bargaining agents to represent the interests of their members through legitimate union activities which are not contrary to collective agreements and legislation,” the statement said, adding the CSC does not comment specifically about collective-agreement negotiations.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell