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  1. Component 1 - BC General Employees' Union
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  3. Employer rejects union's recruitment & retention solution - BCGEU

Employer rejects union's recruitment & retention solution - BCGEU

Published on January 22, 2008

On Friday government informed us they will not be implementing a wage increase to address chronic staffing problems in Corrections and Sheriff Services.

Since 1998 the government has addressed recruitment and retention issues with market adjustments for some classifications.

In the spring of 2006 the union and the employer negotiated language in our collective agreement that provides a mechanism to address recruitment & retention problems. This is done through a wage increase called a temporary market adjustment (TMA).

Component 1 executive prepared detailed and well researched information on staffing, overtime costs and national wage comparisons with other law enforcement agencies. We showed that B.C. Sheriffs and Corrections are far down the list.

Our members have been leaving at an alarming rate for other law enforcement agencies. Over the past year approximately 15 percent of Sheriffs and Correctional Officers have left. Use of overtime to deal with staff shortages is rampant and making the situation worse.

In December BCGEU President George Heyman and I met with the Minister of Public Safety & Solicitor General John Les and Attorney General Wally Oppal to present and explain our research and our proposals for wage adjustments to address the wage gap in our component. They agreed to look at recruitment and retention in Corrections and Sheriff Services.

The media has also responded to our news releases and information and have taken an interest in staffing problems in B.C. prisons and courthouses. We have been available to answer their questions on numerous occasions and brother Heyman has given numerous interviews on radio and TV to highlight our issue and raise the public safety and security concern.

The provincial government has stated before that the BC public service should be in third place when it comes to wages. We are currently in eighth spot for Corrections and twelfth for Sheriffs.

The decision last week shows a lack of respect for the work we do. It is out of touch with current labour market conditions. It tells us they don't care if experienced staff leave for other higher paying jobs. It is a short sighted mistake.

We will continue to apply pressure on this issue.

Dean Purdy
Component 1 Chair
Correctional & Sheriff Services
BCGEU

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