FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 1, 2001
The Correctional Service decision to startOttawa - The Correctional Service Canada (CSC) decision to implement Canada wide searching of all staff entering federal institutions, beginning in Ontario by tomorrow, and in Quebec on Monday, should be suspended until meaningful consultations with the union representing these workers are completed.
According to Lynn Ray, National President of the Union of Solicitor General Employees (USGE), which represents the women and men working in the 52 federal penitentiaries, the decision to start searching staff is premature and should be delayed until after the CSC and the union come to an agreement. "We were told by the CSC that extensive consultations were to take place before implementing this decision. But these consultations were never undertaken. And today, the Correctional Service wants to go ahead, while they have not assessed the consequences of this decision."
USGE is a Component of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and represents 8,900 workers at Correctional Service, of which 2,200 work in Ontario and 2,400 in Quebec.
"Although we asked for the rationale behind this decision," adds Ray, "we did not receive any response. We want to know why the CSC wants to impose this new procedure now? They have refused to produce data that shows an increase in unlawful acts involving staff to support this idea. Because this decision is not supported by any study or research, we know what will be the most important consequence of this decision: it will bring mistrust amongst the whole CSC staff."
This recommendation to search all staff stems from a Security Task Force Report done by the CSC. It states that "searching at the front gate be systematized and that procedures for searching include all staff and visitors". It will require the searching of personal belongings, the X-ray of all the people entering a facility and a sign in procedure for all staff.
"We are shocked by this decision because it contradicts the messages given by our employer that the work done by our members, especially by the Correctional Officers, is valued for its professionalism," adds Ray. "The Correctional Service and the PSAC released last April a joint study to compare the work of the Correctional Officers and the RCMP. The study, endorsed by the CSC, indicated that the Correctional Officers are true professionals whose work is one of the hardest anywhere in Canada and who should be treated and compensated accordingly."
"At a time when our employer repeats constantly that training is important but money is scarce," concludes Ray, "we can foresee that essential resources, money and time will be diverted to conduct this new procedure. The CSC did not evaluate the impact of this new procedure on the morale of its staff, nor the time that will be lost when staff will be entering work. They don't even have requirements to ensure that in minimum penitentiaries, where staff searching will be done at random, this will be made in a non-discriminatory fashion."
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Spokesperson : Lynn Ray, National President, Union of Solicitor General Employees (USGE) - (613) 232-4821
Information : Pierre Lebel, communications officer - PSAC - (613) 560-5482
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