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COMPONENT 1 - CORRECTIONAL AND 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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October 10, 2017

B.C. attorney general says 'serious' lack of sheriffs involves low pay - BCGEU

Taxpayers are footing the bill to fly sheriffs around British Columbia as the province grapples with a chronic shortage of the courtroom staff and frustrated judges speak out about delayed and stayed cases. Attorney General David Eby said the government is working to train more sheriffs to provide courtroom security while dealing with the problem of police forces luring recruits with higher pay...

October 10, 2017

UPDATED: Correction worker dies at Saanich jail - BCGEU

The corrections worker who died in Saanich Wednesday was a man in his 60s. While several aspects of the incident remain unanswered, officials investigating the case stress that the location of his work - Saanich's Vancouver Island Regional Correctional Centre – did not contribute.   Read more...

October 06, 2017

Dean Purdy - Statement on passing of VIRCC member - BCGEU

Dear fellow Component 1 members, I'm sure you have heard about the tragic death on the job of one of our fellow BCGEU Component 1 brothers at the Vancouver Island Regional Correctional Centre (VIRCC) . On behalf of our component's leadership, I want to share my condolences and sympathies with all of those affected by his passing, both at the VIRCC – where I too work – and around the B.C. Correc...

October 05, 2017

BC Corrections’ work helps wildfire-fighting success - BCGEU

Behind British Columbia's many wildfire-fighting crews stands a team of provincial inmates who provide vital support to those serving on the front lines. Throughout the recent provincial state of emergency, a longstanding partnership with the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) saw inmate crews, under the supervision of BC Corrections staff, ramp up their efforts to help fire crews.   Read more...

October 05, 2017

Correctional officer suffers fatal medical episode outside jail - BCGEU

WorkSafe B.C. and the B.C. Coroners Service are investigating a workplace death outside of the Vancouver Island Regional Correctional Centre on Wilkinson Road on Wednesday. A veteran correctional officer suffered a medical emergency while operating farm machinery in a field outside the jail's barbed wire fence, according to the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General and WorkSafe B.C.  ...

October 03, 2017

Judge ‘appalled’ as sheriff shortage cuts trial to an hour - BCGEU

A Victoria provincial court judge called the shortage of sheriffs "appalling" Monday morning after her trial court was delayed by more than two hours. "Two hours of court time utterly and completely wasted because of the shortage of sheriffs. That is appalling," said Judge Loretta Chaperon. When the court proceedings got underway at around 11:30 a.m., Crown prosecutor Joselyn Byrne told Chapero...

October 02, 2017

Shortage of sheriffs still plaguing courts - BCGEU

A shortage of sheriffs closed two Victoria courtrooms and delayed trials again this week.  On Monday, both scheduled trial courts were closed because of the lack of sheriffs. A small- claims trial and a family trial, which were scheduled for a full day, were adjourned.   Read more...

September 14, 2017

Corrections & sheriffs’ wage/ retention crisis raised with new ministers - BCGEU

BCGEU senior leaders took concerns of correctional officers and deputy sheriffs right to the top in back-to-back meetings with the new BC NDP Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth and Attorney General David Eby. BCGEU President Stephanie Smith and BCGEU Vice President, Component 1 Corrections and Sheriff Services, Dean Purdy presented a detailed proposal from Component ...

September 12, 2017

An injury to one is an injury to all: Show your support at PoCo Courthouse! -...

In April of this year, a corrections officer at North Fraser Pretrial Centre was the victim of a violent and targeted attack.  The court date for the inmate accused in this cowardly attack on our member has been set for Thursday, September 14, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at the Port Coquitlam Courthouse. Your union is asking corrections officers to attend this sentencing hearing in order to support our m...