Courthouse security dispute still unresolved
A long-running labour dispute at Prince Albert’s provincial courthouse remains unresolved, according to the Saskatchewan Ministry of Justice.
The dispute arose in the fall of 2016 when the Saskatchewan government moved to replace 14 armed deputy sheriffs, who perform perimeter screening duties at provincial courthouses, with unarmed private contractors. Deputies took the issue to Occupational Health and Safety, arguing the move created an unsafe working environment and endangered those using the courthouse.
Since January of 2017, when OH&S upheld the employees’ right to refuse work and issued the Ministry of Justice with a notice of contravention, both the deputies and private contractors have been sharing security duties.
“Since the Notice of Contravention was filed, the Ministry has been working with OH&S to resolve the work refusal,” a Ministry of Justice spokesperson told paNOW in an email. “Since the claim was filed, we have maintained two armed deputy sheriffs and two Commissionaires at entry points to the courthouse conducting perimeter screening.”