Correctional Officers Protest In Moncton
MONCTON–A brief, peaceful protest was held today in downtown Moncton for federal correctional officers.
A group marched on the steps of their administrative offices earlier today. More than 40 Correctional officers protested while carrying signs, chanting, and blowing horns.
Union of Canadian Correctional Officers National President Jeff Wilkins says excessive discipline is one of the reasons behind the protests.
“We’re here protesting at the regional headquarters in Moncton for the excessive discipline that we’re seeing because we’re peacefully protesting. It’s a little bit ironic when we’ve been doing a campaign now for the last month.
“We’re covering our patches on our CSC patches inside of our workplace. And when our members were wearing them outside of the workplace, the Correctional Service decided to put them all under investigation and discipline them, citing that it’s a health and safety concern. And this is the same department that pretty near refuses every work refusal that we’ve ever put that seriously jeopardizes the health and safety of our members.”
Earlier this month, 26 correctional officers across Atlantic Canada were reprimanded for covering their badges with tape while escorting prisoners and doing other duties in public. Many of the officers were sent home without pay prior to receiving discipline.
The covered-badge protest began as a silent way to denounce what the union calls a toxic workplace environment.
RELATED: Dozens Of Atlantic Canadian Correctional Officers Reprimanded Over Covered Badge Protest
UCCO claims young correctional officers often face verbal harassment and intimidation from older members of upper management. Howe says filing grievances, even when the arbitrator sides with the union, does little to change the behaviour.
Reports have been compiled on the workplace culture in a few of the prisons in Atlantic Canada. Those reports are confidential, however, and the union claims CSC has done little to implement the reports’ recommendations.
There have also been allegations that CSC has done little to combat the new ways prisoners smuggle drugs into the facilities. Drug drops using drones have become an easy method for smugglers. Technology exists to detect these drones, but the union has blasted CSC for not investing enough money and resources into it.
The union says correctional officers are often put in danger when having to deal with intoxicated, and unpredictable, inmates.
Wilkins says he met with the National President and the CSN Coordinator, François Ouellette, along with the Commissioner and Senior Deputy Commissioner in Ottawa on March 10th to discuss the many issues of discontent among the membership, but he believes nothing has been done to date.
Tara Clow is the news director with 91.9 The Bend in Moncton, a Huddle content partner.