On Tuesday, May 9, 2006 the Adult Custody Division, Corrections Branch, issued "pink slips" or notices of job elimination to 54 Senior Correctional Officer 3 and Senior Correctional Officer 2 positions in all of B.C.'s remaining correctional centres. Simultaneously, the Branch announced the creation of up to 33 excluded management positions.

"There was no courtesy advance notice to the CSS Component," says newly elected component chair Dean Purdy. "You would expect that with a major organizational change directly affecting 56 SCO-3 and SCO-2, and indirectly impacting SCO-1 and front-line correctional officers, the employer would at least have the decency to consult properly with the union."

The replacement of unionized SCO-3 members by management exclusions will be challenged by the union. The BCGEU Correctional and Sheriff Services Component executive is meeting May 14 and 15 to assess this provocative employer action and develop a response.

Meetings are being arranged for all SCO's from every correctional centre to review this employer action and to determine our best options in preparation of our challenge to the replacement of union positions by management exclusions.

The schedule of meetings is as follows:

Monday, May 15, 2006

Prince George Conference call at 4 pm at the Area Office

Lower Mainland Meeting at 7 pm at Lower Mainland Area Office, 4925 Canada Way, Burnaby.

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

Kamloops Conference call at 2 pm

Phone in # for SCO's 1-877-385-4099, Access Code 3445414#

Fraser Valley Meeting at 7 pm at Fraser Valley Area Office,

102-19433 96 Ave, Surrey

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

Victoria (VIRCC) Meeting at 10 am at VIRCC

Nanaimo (NRCC) Meeting at 3 pm at NCC at Parkhouse.

For more information: Contact your Component Chair Dean Purdy at VIRCC 250-478-3308 or Wiho Papenbrock, BCGEU Regional Coordinator at Kelowna Area Office 250-763-6405 or 1-800-667-1132.

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