Today your union is launching a campaign: Prison Violence puts us all at Risk. 

The campaign addresses the increasing issue of violence and problems of overcrowding and higher inmate-correctional officer (CO) ratios in B.C.’s correctional centers.

We want to put pressure on the provincial government, urging them to:

• Lower inmate to officer ratios
• Agree to change WCB regulations and reduce ratios back to a safer and more manageable number
• Introduce new WCB regulations which will allow WCB to write orders around ratios and address the employer’s lack of response re: violence and other workplace hazards
• Address the fentanyl epidemic in our jails. The fentanyl epidemic facing B.C. communities is just as rampant inside our jails, and current staffing levels are not adequate enough to keep up. Staffing levels must be increased for the safety and security of corrections officers, the community and the inmates.

Starting today, billboards have been posted in a variety of locations across the province.If you see them, I encourage you to take photos and post them on social media with a link to our site.

 
Also, you can help spread the word about the campaign by retweeting or sharing our social media posts (Twitter - Facebook) or posting this digital shareable to refer people to the campaign website.
 
Prison violence and unsafe prisons ultimately puts everyone at risk. It impacts the safety of inmates, correctional officers and our communities.  
 
Let's tell the provincial government to be proactive and intervene before we have a similar, preventable accident like the one at the Babine saw mill in Burns Lake.

Our corrections officers keep the public safe. We are held to the highest standards of workplace conduct and professionalism in the workplace. It’s way past due that safety regulations that are supposed to protect us are held to that same standard.

Thanks for your help.