On March 28th, the Public Service Agency (PSA) gave notice to the BCGEU that the government had given Royal Assent to Bill 8 – Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, which, among other things, amended the Forensic Psychiatry Act to remove the requirement that the Public Service Act applies to staff who work at the Forensic Psychiatric Services Commission. The government also approved Orders in Council (OIC) for Oak Bay Lodge and the Broadmead Care Society. These actions transfer members as of June 1, 2013 from the public sector bargaining unit and from the coverage of the Master and Component Agreements with the government (although the Employer at Broadmead has agreed to respect the Agreements until the parties return to the bargaining table). We will continue to oppose these transfers by the current government, after the election.

A WCB inspection of the North Fraser Pre-Trial Centre (NFPC) has resulted in nine orders being written. The inspection was carried out by three senior WCB inspectors between April 23-26.

The BCGEU is calling on the Alberta government to negotiate with striking correctional officers. The strike began Friday when officers at a remand centre in Edmonton refused to report for work citing safety concerns in the facility.

The WCB has informed the union that they will be conducting their inspection at the North Fraser Pre-Trial Centre (NFPC) starting next week on April 22 through April 25. This is the commitment they have made to conduct in-depth inspections at all nine provincial jails in BC.

As you know, many members did not receive their retro pay for many weeks and in some cases months after the date of ratification. The union told the government's chief negotiator on many occasions, both verbally and in writing, that the delays were unacceptable. On March 6, 2013, the union asked members to identify themselves if they had still not received the money they were owed. Based on the member responses, and the information obtained from government payroll, we can now provide updated information to you.

On Friday, March 8

TO: CORRECTIONAL AND SHERIFF SERVICES COMPONENT 1 (CSSC) MEMBERS

Your Component has been advised that Correctional Centers are currently undergoing a seniority calculation review of all employees based on "hours", not by "date of hire".

REST PERIODS

As a result of grievances previously filed, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed recording an agreement between the Union and the Employer as to the application of rest periods in the Corrections Branch. It was agreed that rest periods would be applied
as follows:

The Component 1 executive met in Langley this week. The agenda included a strategic planning session, a tour of Surrey Pretrial Services Centre, a disccussion of upcoming bargaining, hours of work week, classification appeals, and other Component 1 priorities.