The provincial government has rejected a pay adjustment for Corrections Officers and Deputy Sheriffs, although there is agreement to review the issue in the fall.

"The decision by the Public Service Agency (PSA) to yet again reject a market adjustment for corrections officers and deputy sheriffs flies in the face of all the evidence the union has presented," said Darryl Walker, BCGEU president. "While we have a commitment from the PSA that the issue will be addressed in the fall, we are very disappointed the government has not moved more quickly on this important issue."

The BCGEU has released two studies showing that correctional officers and deputy sheriffs are not being paid fair value compared to their counterparts in the rest of the province and country. The refusal by the government to provide a market adjustment in pay has resulted in recruitment and retention problems for both correctional officers and deputy sheriffs. There is a provision in the collective agreement that allows for the opportunity to negotiate special pay adjustments to solve staffing shortages.

According to the union's May 2008 survey, B.C. correctional officers are paid far less than their counterparts in the rest of the country. The study showed that they are ninth on the list of the level of pay for correctional officers across Canada.

For example, the survey found that officers in the North West Territories earn $36.28 an hour, that federal corrections earn $33.67, and that Alberta corrections earn $32.67. B.C.'s correctional officers earn $27.08 per hour.

The same problem exists with deputy sheriffs. An April 2008 study done by the BCGEU comparing wage rates for B.C. deputy sheriffs with 11 law enforcement agencies in the province shows that other enforcement officials earn significantly higher wages.

The study compared the current wage rate for B.C. deputy sheriffs-which is $26.31 per hour - with equivalent staff in other agencies. The study found that Greater Vancouver Transit Police constables earn $10.27 an hour more than sheriffs and that Vancouver City Police 1st class constables with four years of service make $9.57 an hour more.

"Our component executive have made this point to the provincial government," said Dean Purdy, chair of the union's correctional and sheriffs component. "When we met with Solicitor General John van Dongen he promised to review the issue with his staff."

"In Question Period on May 23, van Dongen said the government would consider a market adjustment," said Purdy. "Our members are leaving at an alarming rate for other higher paying law enforcement jobs and it's time for the government to come through."

Correctional Officers are facing increased stress in jail facilities where overcrowding has resulted in double-bunking. There have been delays in court proceedings in Richmond and Nanaimo as a result of a lack of sheriffs and the safety of judges, court staff, deputy sheriffs, and the public is at risk.

"We will put our arguments forward again at our meeting with the PSA this fall," said Walker. "However, the government has to realize that we are not going to let this issue go away until there is an outcome that provides an adjustment for correctional officers and deputy sheriffs."

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