(File photo/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Healthy workplace

Union seeking ‘hazard pay’, asks for MP help

Feb 16, 2021 | 5:00 PM

Frustrated by a lack of response from the federal government, the union representing federal correctional officers is now trying a new approach to gather support and awareness around its call for hazard pay.

A total of 31 letters have been distributed to federal deputies who represent constituencies in which penitentiaries are located. Jeff Wilkins, National President of the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers (UCCO-SACC-CSN), writes that of all federal public servants, correctional officers have been by far the most affected by this pandemic.

“Unlike many public servants, working from home is not an option for correctional officers. Day after day, our members have bravely gone to work in Canada’s federal penitentiaries, doing their job protecting Canadians,” he said. “As waves of this virus come and go, the difficult job that the members of UCCO-SACC-CSN face in battling the virus remains.

Wilkins explains in his letter the union is merely seeking support to increase awareness for Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, Public Safety Minister Bill Blair and Treasury Board President Jean-Yves Duclos.

Last April, the union’s national executive committee made a request during a meeting with the National Joint Council, for what was termed ‘hazard pay’. This gave the mandate to the deputy minister of the Treasury Board to seek the assistance from the government to recognize the critical work correctional officers do on a day to day basis. In a January interview with paNOW, Regional Vice-President Ryan Deback explained over 30 per cent of correctional officers identify with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or some form of operational stress injury.

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“You just cannot go into work and deal with the people that we deal with and not have it change you, and not have it impact you,” he said.

Deback also explained the increase in the hazard pay is not about the money, but rather just an acknowledgement the jobs the men and women do on a daily basis is appreciated. Recalling the events that transpired at the prison during a riot in 2016, DeBack said what happened to those officers will stay with them for the rest of their lives.

Support from the Prince Albert Member of Parliament

As of Feb. 15, Prince Albert MP Randy Hoback MP had not yet seen a copy of the union’s letter, but told paNOW he supported their cause. Hoback cited the recent example of a month long health order, that forced all correctional staff at the Saskatchewan Penitentiary to self-isolate when at home, thereby sacrificing both Christmas and New Year’s celebrations with their families. The measure was taken in response to a rising number of COVID cases at the prison.

“If you ask them to do that type of sacrifice then the pay should be compensating for that hazard,” Hoback said.

In response to the federal government’s lack of response to the union’s requests, Hoback said he was not at all surprised, claiming the government doesn’t respond unless it’s a crisis. When asked what he can do personally to move the issue forward, Hoback plans to take the request to the treasury board and the appropriate ministers to find out where they are at with it.

“Normally, we try to do it through letters and normally it can be resolved but if it doesn’t get resolved then I’ll go to my critic and we’ll start asking questions in question period on it,” he said.

Response to hazard pay request from the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC)

According to a previous statement provided to paNOW by Corrections Canada, rates of pay and terms and conditions of employment for federal employees are negotiated between Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS) on behalf of the employer and unions on behalf of their members.

“We are aware of staff concerns associated with managing the pandemic at Saskatchewan Penitentiary. We understand this is a difficult time for staff and we are grateful for the work they do everyday maintaining our operations 24/7,” the statement said.

The statement also explained resources are available to support the employees during these unprecedented times.

“The health and safety of our employees, offenders and the public remains our top priority during this public health pandemic. We are working closely with our public health partners, unions, stakeholders and Elders, to make decisions based on science and implement measures with everyone’s safety in mind.”

As of Feb. 14, there are no active COVID cases at any of the federal correctional institutions in Saskatchewan including Saskatchewan Penitentiary at Prince Albert or the Willow Cree Healing Lodge outside Duck Lake.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell