Media Release – Union working with management on long-term health& safety issues: remains concerned with day-to-day violence at the CNSCF.

PRESS RELEASE
June 23, 2014

Halifax: The NSGEU is meeting with management to address long-term health & safety issues for Correctional Officers, members of Local 480, who work at the Central Nova Scotia Correctional Facility (CNSCF) in Burnside but remains concerned about the violence in their workplace on a day-to-day basis.
Senior management, NSGEU’s Occupational Health & Safety Officer, and Correctional Officers are meeting regularly to address long-term health & safety issues in a new working group established in April 2014. The working group considers issues such as proper staffing levels, safety equipment, and training.
While the union is optimistic about working with management to develop solutions to ongoing health & safety issues and have had some progress to date, they are concerned about the recent violence in the CNSCF and the continued issue of understaffing on a day-to-day basis.
“Correctional Officers at the CNSCF are professionals who take pride in the work they do and the public service they provide,” says Jessome. “Every worker has a right to a safe workplace and the employer has an obligation to take measures to minimize the risk of violence in the workplace. This includes ensuring proper levels of staffing are in place at all times. Staffing shortages can put the Correctional Officers and the inmates at increased risk.”
The NSGEU represents Correctional Officers who work in Provincial Correctional Facilities.