Earlier today Correctional Officers staged legal protests in front of three correctional facilities in the province: Vancouver Island Regional Correctional Centre in Victoria, Fraser Regional Correctional Centre in Maple Ridge and North Fraser Pretrial Centre in Port Coquitlam.

Security at these facilities was not compromised in any way by today's protests. The same cannot be said of government inaction on staffing shortages in B.C. jails and court houses.

"Correctional Officers are frustrated and angered by the provincial government's rejection last week of a union proposal to address the recruitment and retention crisis that is jeopardizing safety in provincial prisons," said BCGEU president George Heyman.

The Sheriff Services Branch is experiencing a similar staffing crisis that threatens court room security and is delaying court proceedings.

The BCGEU represents approximately 1,400 Correctional Officers and 420 Sheriffs. Over the last few years Correctional Officers and Sheriffs have been leaving the service in high numbers for jobs with other law enforcement agencies. Last year about 15% of Correctional Officers and Sheriffs quit.

The government has responded to these acute staffing shortages in our prisons and court houses with an excessive reliance on overtime.

"The BCGEU presented to government last year detailed information on staffing, overtime costs and a national wage comparisons with other law enforcement agencies," Heyman added. "We showed that B.C. Sheriffs and Corrections are far down the list."

The union proposed a salary increase that would have begun to close the gap and address the problem.

Government's rejection of the proposal shows a lack of respect for the work Correctional Officers and Sheriffs perform. It says government doesn't care if experienced staff leave for higher paying jobs. It is out of touch with current labour market conditions. It is a short sighted mistake.