MEDIA RELEASE: Union Calls On Government to Act on Safety Recommendations

After a frightening incident at the Halifax provincial courts on Monday, Deputy Sheriffs and their union representatives are calling on government to finally act on the many outstanding recommendations made in a recent safety assessment.

“Deputy Sheriffs responded very well to a dangerous situation that could have gotten out of hand very easily,” said NSGEU President Jason MacLean.

“We are told that a risk assessment was conducted by management, but that assessment clearly failed to anticipate the heightened risks that came along with such a high-profile case, which put both our members and members of the public in harm’s way.”

One member was injured, received medical treatment and is off the job as the result of yesterday’s incident.

There were a total of 51 recommendations designed to mitigate significant risks to both the public and Deputy Sheriffs made in the Beaton Report, which was commissioned by the provincial Liberal government in July 2015 to assess violence in the workplace.  Now, almost 18 months later, many of those 51 recommendations have still not been implemented.

“This issue was significant enough that government felt it warranted the time and expense of a study. Why are they now dragging their feet on implementing the recommendations that were made?” asked MacLean.

“It seems that this is yet another study that government plans to pay for and leave sitting on the shelf.”

MacLean is once again calling on government to honour their commitment to implement the recommendations of the Beaton Report in a timely manner, to ensure public safety.

-30-