NEWS & UPDATES
August 05, 2016
Forensic Psychiatric Hospital Members - Refuse Unsafe Work
BCGEU members that work at the Forensic Psychiatric Hospital in Coquitlam continue to face unacceptable levels of violence and risk of serious injury. Our members were directed by the employer to release patients from seclusion rooms in spite of contrary advice by the care team. The patients were secluded due to incidents of violence against other patients and workers. They were still exhibitin...
August 04, 2016
Sheriff Services – Nanaimo Court House nominations for shop steward (1 position)
Nominations are now open for 1 positon for shop steward at Sheriff Services – Nanaimo Court House.
What do stewards do?
Stewards provide support and advice to members who think they are being treated unfairly. They sign up new employees and provide information on BCGEU services. Solve problems in the workplace. They conduct ratification votes and elections, and stewards keep members informed ...
August 02, 2016
Ministry: No numbers on mental health for incarcerated youth
The union for prison officers is claiming more incarcerated youth are dealing with mental illnesses, but the ministry that cares for them says it’s not tracking the numbers. Read more...
July 28, 2016
2 Day Joint OHS Committee Training
"2 Day Joint OHS Committee Training" will be held on Tuesday August 9th and Wednesday August 10th. This course will be held at the BCGEU area office, 8555 - 198A Street
Langley from 9:00 am - 4:30 pm each day.
In the Joint OHS Committee Training course you will learn:
Worker OHS rights, including the refusal of unsafe work procedure
OHS legislation
Roles and responsibilities of employers,...
July 25, 2016
Inmates smash desks, cause flood in six-hour riot at Burnaby detention centre
A six-hour riot at the Burnaby Youth Custody Services Centre Tuesday night caused extensive damage to the facility, but no injuries. Read more...
July 25, 2016
[UPDATE] Prison riot a result of gang ties, says union
Tuesday night’s riot in the Burnaby youth custody centre was the result of an unstable and increasingly violent prison population, according to the union representing correctional officers. Read more...
July 25, 2016
‘They smashed microwaves, tables, chairs’: Teen inmates stage six-hour riot a...
Overcrowding and an increased number of rival gang affiliates at B.C.’s youth “super-jail” likely contributed to a rampage that lasted six hours and caused extensive damage at the Burnaby youth detention centre Tuesday. Read more...
July 25, 2016
Overcrowding not an issue at Burnaby youth jail where inmates rioted: province
The British Columbia government is pushing back against claims that a Burnaby youth detention centre where inmates rioted on Tuesday night is overcrowded. Read more...
July 25, 2016
Six-hour riot erupts at Burnaby youth jail
A six-hour riot resulted in a fire and jail guards fleeing a staff area at the Burnaby Youth Detention Centre on Tuesday night. Read more...
July 25, 2016
Riot at Burnaby Youth Detention Centre lasted 6 hours
It was a hectic night for guards at the Burnaby Youth Detention Centre after seven male young offenders, all between the ages of 15 and 17, started a riot. Read more...
July 25, 2016
Riot at Burnaby Youth Detention Centre
No one was hurt but there is extensive damage after at least 10 inmates set fires, destroyed equipment, and went wild for six hours at the Burnaby Youth Detention Centre overnight. Read more...
July 25, 2016
Tensions were running high before riot at Burnaby youth centre
There is plenty of damage at the Burnaby Youth Detention centre following an overnight riot. Read more...
July 25, 2016
Fires set, windows smashed in riot at youth jail in B.C.
Officials say a riot at a young offenders jail in Burnaby, B.C., has caused extensive damage. Read more...
July 25, 2016
Riot at Burnaby youth detention centre causes fire, extensive damage
Windows were broken, equipment was smashed and fires were started during a riot that erupted at the Burnaby youth detention centre. Read more...
July 25, 2016
Youth inmates riot at overcrowded, gang-ridden Burnaby ‘super-jail’
Overcrowding and an increased number of rival gang affiliates at B.C.’s youth “super-jail” likely contributed to a rampage that lasted six hours and caused extensive damage at the Burnaby youth detention centre Tuesday. Read more...
July 25, 2016
News media puts spotlight on Burnaby Youth Custody Centre riot
Wednesday night’s six-hour long riot at Burnaby’s Youth Custody Centre received extensive media coverage. Speaking with reporters from all of the major news outlets, BCGEU vice president Dean Purdy (Corrections and Sheriff Services – Component 1) drew public attention to increasing levels of violence in the facility. He was also able to discuss the fallout of the closure of the Victoria Youth C...
July 20, 2016
Riot marks increasing violence at Burnaby Youth Custody Centre
Last night’s six-hour long riot at the Burnaby Youth Custody Centre (BYCC) is the latest indication of escalating levels of violence at the facility. In recent months, officers at the facility have reported increasing levels of inmate-on-inmate violence and inmate-on-staff assaults.
The rise coincides with the closure of the Victoria Youth Custody Centre (VYCC) in 2014. The Burnaby centre now ...
July 20, 2016
Correctional centre continues to spin off economic benefits as construction w...
As construction begins winding down at the Okanagan Correctional Centre and employment patterns begin to shift, so too does the institution’s economic impact on the South Okanagan economy. Read more...
July 20, 2016
Dealing with more violence in provincial prisons
A spokesman for the union that represents correctional officers in B.C.’s provincial jails says Kamloops Regional Correctional Centre is an overcrowded, understaffed and violent tinderbox — and he’s doubtful a new South Okanagan institution slated to open this fall will do much to ease the pressure. Read more...
July 18, 2016
Nomination for Local Executive Positions
Nominations are now open for following positions on the Local 103 Executive:
Second Vice-Chair
Recording Secretary
Member-at-Large (2 positions)
The deadline for nominations is: no later than Friday, August 12, 2016
If there is an election for a position, candidates may submit one page of information (8-½ x 11, black and white) for distribution to members with ballots. This must be r...