B.C.'S UNION SINCE 1919

COMPONENT 1 - CORRECTIONS & SHERIFF SERVICES

Component 1 includes members who work as Correctional Officers in provincial prisons and as Deputy Sheriffs for the B.C. Sheriff Services.

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NEWS & UPDATES

September 12, 2017

Shortage of sheriffs in Nanaimo causes court - BCGEU

The union representing Nanaimo sheriff services is hoping a meeting this week with B.C.'s Attorney General will curb a declining workforce causing court delays. Dean Purdy, B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union's corrections and sheriff services vice-president, said sheriffs – peace officers for courts – are underpaid and losing membership to higher-paying police jobs.   Read more...

August 31, 2017

Corrections & Sheriffs Recruitment & Retention issues must be addressed - BCGEU

Dear Component 1 members,   You and I both know how important issues of recruitment and retention are in Corrections and Sheriffs Services. Closing the pay gap between our ministries and police agencies is the best way to address this.   The Victoria Times Colonist recently published this article on the topic that I want to share with you: Province looks at ways to solve sheriff shortage   Your...

August 17, 2017

Federal prisons need to be on a tight leash - BCGEU

Correctional Service Canada quietly removed caged-in exercise pens at the isolation unit of a federal prison in Alberta over the weekend. Good. Dismantling the structures, which were better suited to dog kennels than prisons, is the correct decision. Full credit is due to CSC management for making it – with a caveat.   Read more...

July 20, 2017

Join us! BCGEU member’s Walk for PTSD Awareness ends Friday at BC Legislature...

Robert Gagnon is a man on a mission. The 44-year-old B.C. corrections officer and Canadian veteran began his Walk to Raise Awareness for Veterans and First Responders with PTSD in Prince George on June 28, and will end his walk on the front steps of the B.C. Legislature in Victoria tomorrow, Friday July 21. Robert's estimated arrival at the Legislature is 3:00 p.m. We encourage BCGEU members i...

July 06, 2017

Component 1 executive keeps pressure on WCB - BCGEU

Last Friday, Dean Purdy, Vice President, Corrections and Sheriff Services Component 1 and Component Executive members Brian Campbell and Brandon Cox once again met with senior Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) officials in their second meeting since January. Your union raised a variety of issues and concerns including the need to lower officer-to-inmate ratios, a review of the latest prison vio...

June 26, 2017

BCGEU member to walk from PG to Victoria to raise funds for PTSD - BCGEU

Robert Gagnon, a correctional officer at the Prince George Correctional Centre, is about to embark on a meaningful and important mission: Gagnon is setting out to walk from Prince George to Victoria to raise funds and awareness for first responders and veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Gagnon, a long-time BCGEU member and former Corporal with the Canadian Armed For...

June 23, 2017

Update #3 - BC Nurses and Chiron Health Services bargaining - BCGEU

The Corrections branch was recently advised that the BC Nurses have served strike notice against Chiron, the health services provider in BC correctional centers.   Chiron and the Nurses are still in the process of negotiating essential services levels through the Labour Relations Board (LRB). The provincial government and BCGEU are not direct parties to this dispute.   We further understand tha...

June 12, 2017

Provincial judge condemns inmate’s assault on officer - BCGEU

A BC provincial court judge who handed down a 14-month sentence to an inmate of Surrey Pretrial Services Centre for assaulting a correctional officer denounced the inmate for his actions. The victim, a long-time BCGEU member, was the target of a vicious assault using fecal matter. Read more details of the trial here In Judge Peder Gulbransen's reasons for sentence, he said: "The court must deno...

June 12, 2017

Corrections & Sheriffs – Lunch and coffee breaks must be provided - BCGEU

All employees shall have two, 15-minute rest periods in each work period in excess of six hours, one rest period to be granted before and one after the meal period. Employees working a shift of three and one half hours, but not more than six hours, shall receive one rest period during such a shift. Rest periods shall not begin until one hour after the commencement of work or not later than one ...