On Tuesday, February 22, 2011, BCGEU representatives met with senior WorkSafeBC officials to discuss the rise in violence inside maximum security jails.

Representing the BCGEU was Component 1 Chair Dean Purdy, Component 2nd Vice Chair Tony Tessari, Component Executive member Peter Clegg, Staff Representative Wiho Papenbrock and the union's Safety Staff Representative Sheila Moir.
The BCGEU presented their concerns to WorkSafe BC regarding the increase in violence from  both inmate-on-inmate and inmate-on-staff.

"We were pleased with the meeting and are hopeful WorkSafeBC will be able to help us in reducing the contributing factors to violence," said Purdy. "It is the staff-to-inmate ratios which are as high as 1:60."

The union will be following up on the meeting to determine the success of the meeting.

Click here for a copy of the letter provided to WorkSafeBC