In the wake of the release of over one hundred recommendations from Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the Union of Solicitor General Employees commends the Commission for its extraordinary and groundbreaking work.
The Union of Solicitor General Employees (USGE) National office has been receiving a substantial number of emails and calls from Regional Vice Presidents (RVPs) and members concerned about the Correctional Services of Canada’s (CSC) recent strategy of designating employees working in sentence management and other employee groups as impacted and vulnerable but not deemed affected as per the Collective Agreement.
Correctional Service Canada (CSC) employees who work in Canada’s penitentiaries every day with offenders were not surprised by many of the findings in this week’s report from the Auditor general. Major changes to federal legislation over the last decade, combined with significant budget cuts to CSC, have led to more offenders being incarcerated longer.
Tuesday’s federal budget was a mixed bag for USGE members. The federal government signaled its intention to follow through with its plan to make significant changes to the federal public service’s sick leave program, regardless of the outcome of the collective bargaining process.
While there have been some delays in meeting the previously established timelines, significant progress has been made over the last several months. Consultation with divisional management and USGE representatives has been very positive with helpful feedback.
Public safety is clearly on the minds of Canadians. And for good reason, given recent domestic and international events. So, it perhaps comes as no surprise that the federal government would introduce the possibility of keeping some of Canada’s most egregious offenders in jail – for good.
On January 26, 2015, the Public Service Labour Relations and Employment Board (PSLREB) ruled in favour of the union on our policy grievance against Correctional Service Canada (CSC) for its handling of food services employees whose jobs were being eliminated.
The Union of Solicitor General Employees (USGE) is asserting that CSC’s Attendance Management Program is arbitrary, discriminatory and violates the collective agreement. This is particularly the case for those Correctional employees who required family and bereavement leave, as well as those employees with a disability.
The Public Service Labour Relations and Employment Board (PSLREB) has ruled in favour of the Union of Solicitor General Employees (USGE) and the Public Service Alliance of Canada in its formal complaint against Correctional Services Canada (CSC) for its handling of employees whose jobs were being eliminated.
I know many of you have been working in an environment that is ever changing and you have had to adapt to new circumstances. I want to assure you that USGE is doing everything we can so that you are able to work in a constructive and supportive environment.