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“Even though they work in an often hostile environment, they shouldn’t have to fear for their safety at work.” — Joan Jessome, NSGEU President.
Halifax (05 Feb. 2015) — The Canadian Press recently reported that assaults on correctional officers have nearly doubled in 2014, as compared to 2013. It states that there were 32 assaults on officers in 2014, as opposed to only 6 in 2013.
Increased assaults on correctional officers sounds warning for NSGEU/NUPGE
“Our members are proud of the public service they provide as correctional officers in the largest and busiest provincial correctional facility,” says Joan Jessome, President of the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union (NSGEU/NUPGE). “Even though they work in an often hostile environment, they shouldn’t have to fear for their safety at work.”
Both union and management work together in a Joint Occupational Health & Safety Committee (JOHSC) and in safety working groups to regularly address health & safety issues at the Central Nova Scotia Correctional Facility, often referred to as Burnside.
All workers have the right to a safe workplace
“This increase is alarming and concerns us,” says President Jessome. “The provincial Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) Act ensures us that workers have a right to a safe workplace. Even if we attribute some of the increase in numbers to better reporting, it still suggests Burnside is getting more dangerous for employees and this must be addressed.”
Although some are looking to the new jail in Priestville as a solution, it will not solve all of the OH&S issues at Burnside. It will lower the numbers of inmates in Burnside, but because of its proximity to the courts, Burnside will continue to receive federally remanded inmates and will continue as the main jail for the Metro area.
NSGEU/NUPGE will continue to push for continuous improvement in health and safety and will push for ways to mitigate risk and improve training, protective equipment, and monitoring in the facility. Ensuring there is adequate staffing at all times will also be a priority.
NSGEU/NUPGE represents approximately 250 correctional cofficers working at Burnside.
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE