Well it was a long drive from the GSB to Ottawa but well worth it last night. The NUPGE Correctional Officer conference started this morning. It is a two day conference held once a year in Ottawa in conjunction with the peace officers memorial ceremony on Parliament Hill. The NUPGE corrections component is well represented with members of unions from our counterparts in British Columbia; Saskatchewan; Manitoba; Nova Scotia; P.E.I.; Newfoundland and Labrador.
The agenda started with opening remarks from the NUPGE president. The day was spent going over reports from each province and sharing information on issues relating to bargaining updates; collective agreements; and Health and Safety issues. Many issues are very similar if not the same in each province such as hours of work; equipment; community escorts to overcrowding. The report from OPSEU was presented by Jack Hopkins MCYS MERC chair; Brian Chauvin JPH&SC chair; and myself.
A presentation was made by a staff representative from the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) who represent 217 unions of which about 300,000 are prison employees. Their role is similar to that of NUPGE in that they coordinate campaigns, education, and research. The presenter discussed issues their unions are struggling with and described a campaign regarding overcrowding.
The conference continues tomorrow with a full agenda, and a tour of OCDC.
In Solidarity
Dan Sidsworth
