MONTREAL, May 16, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - Nearly 200 members of the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers (UCCO-SACC-CSN) are demonstrating today in front of Treasury Board Secretariat, in Ottawa. Nearly three years after the expiry of their last collective agreement, they are urging the government to reach an agreement that meets their specific needs once and for all.
"After many bargaining meetings, Treasury Board still refuses to recognize the uniqueness of our work. The government wants to put us in the same box as all the other federal employees. It cannot work. One size fits all doesn't always fit ", said Jason Godin, UCCO-SACC-CSN National President.
On May 15, the UCCO-SACC-CSN bargaining committee tabled a counter-proposal on a number of issues with Treasury Board and reaffirmed the importance of some of the initial demands of Correctional Officers. "The message of our counter-proposal is clear: We are different and our collective agreement must reflect that. Who else in the public service is exposed to physical and verbal abuse on a day-to-day basis?", added the president of UCCO-SACC-CSN. Mr. Godin also pointed out that the latest figures released by the Department of Public Safety confirm that Correctional Officers are the first responders most affected by post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Canada.
During the past several months, Correctional Officers, who do not have the right to strike, have taken part in numerous visibility actions in front of, and within, the walls of their institutions. Today, in addition to the event in Ottawa, information lines are held by UCCO-SACC-CSN members at detention facilities across Canada.
A new negotiating session is scheduled with Treasury Board on May 24, 25 and 26. "From coast to coast, Correctional Officers are showing solidarity. Their participation in coordinated actions is impressive. With the support of its 7400 members, the bargaining committee is ready to resume discussions next week ", concluded Jason Godin.
About the union
The Union of Canadian Correctional Officers (UCCO-SACC-CSN) represents more than 7400 members, spread across Canada's five major regions: British Colombia, the Prairies, Ontario, Québec and Atlantic. UCCO-SACC-CSN represents the CX1 and CX2 job titles in 49 federal institutions.
SOURCE CSN
Katerine Desgroseilliers, Communication Advisor - CSN, [email protected], 514 265-4250
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