The recently announced province-wide changes to the Corrections Branch "Sick Time"  (STIIP) protocol are not in line with the collective agreement and are abusive.

In their most recent policy, the employer is asking BCGEU Corrections Officers to call in to speak with a supervisor, and then follow up with a separate phone call to a manager when they book off sick. The sick day is then recorded as "leave without pay" until approved by a manager.

"This policy is abusive and a heavy handed way of trying to intimidate our members from booking off sick," says Dean Purdy Chair of the Corrections & Sheriff Services Component 1.

The union is advising members that they do not have to make a second call into the employer. Sick time and Special Leaves are with pay as an entitlement under the contract and cannot be deemed without pay at the employer's discretion.

If they deny you your sick time benefits pay, you should grieve this immediately with a shop steward.

The union has put the Corrections Branch on notice in writing (click HERE to read the letter to Pete Coulson) that the union disagrees with their new policy for booking off sick and we are raising this at the next joint ministry Article 29 Committee meeting and with bargaining principals at the PSA.

"The Corrections Branch wonders why staff morale is always so low and then they come out with a policy like this," says Purdy.

Members should check the union's website for regular updates on this and other issues in Component 1.