Senior Executive Committee Meeting (SEM)
This month, the UCCO-SACC-CSN National Executive met with Correctional Service Canada’s Senior Leadership, including Regional Deputy Commissioners and Assistant Commissioners. The Commissioner was absent due to travel issues but will follow up with National President Frédérick Lebeau. The National Executive would like to thank Melissa Saunders, Mountain Institution’s local president, Pacific Region, for her participation as an observer for the week. The meetings addressed staff safety, workplace violence, staffing, training, mental health, scheduling, and meaningful consultation.
The National Executive stressed that violence against correctional officers must never be accepted as a normal part of the job. The employer proposed a working group to address rising violence and inmate accountability, which the union welcomes, provided it leads to concrete action. Members have long raised concerns about assaults, threats, drugs, drones, and weapons. CSC affirmed that staff safety is a priority, noting progress on security tools like cell jamming and drone mitigation. Funding of $60.5 million, plus $2.3 million for maintenance, has been approved for these technologies, which the union welcomes. However, it was also emphasized to the employer that these new technologies should only be used to support staff as a layered approach but will never replace the value of personnel on the ground.
The serious assault at Springhill was discussed directly. The union raised the impact this incident has had on staff, and CSC acknowledged the seriousness of the assault and confirmed that RCMP charges are being pursued. UCCO-SACC-CSN will continue to press for accountability, support for affected members, and for stronger safety measures at the site and regional levels.
CX Boot Allowance
UCCO-SACC-CSN raised the ongoing issue of the correctional officer boot allowance, highlighting unacceptable delays in the approval process. Significant work has been done by the National Health and Safety Policy Committee to settle on a reasonable increase to the allowance as dictated by the National Joint Council’s guidelines on Protective footwear. The employer has now signaled that the increase must be approved by the Treasury Board Secretariat and has also signaled that they are committed to advancing the file, with a hopeful timeline for approval in June. UCCO-SACC-CSN stressed that this is not a luxury; it is a necessary piece of equipment for officers working in demanding and often hazardous environments.
Schedules and Working Conditions
The National Executive would like to thank the members of our Local Scheduling Committees for the significant work they have done in creating site schedules for most institutions across the country. There remain a few schedules which will need to be created, voted on and approved by the National Scheduling Committee before June 1st, for a fall implementation. During this scheduling exercise, the union has stated on numerous occasions that local or regional training would be beneficial for the Institutional Scheduling Committees in developing joint schedules at the local level. If anything has been learned over the last six (6) months, we are hopeful the employer will engage in this vital exercise to empower locals to create the most appropriate schedules that work for the site.
Grievances and Discipline Process
Your executive challenged the lack of transparency in decisions to suspend members without pay. Specifically, “three-week review” letters are often vague and fail to clearly explain why a suspension shifts from with pay to without pay. As per the Global Agreement, members are entitled to clear reasons justifying CSC’s decision to suspend members without pay. CSC committed to reviewing this issue.
Commuting Allowance
Longstanding concerns about commuting allowance claims were raised, some of which date back several years. CSC acknowledged that the National Joint Council Travel Directive does not specify timeframes and said they are exploring a national approach. At present, claims are being assessed on a case-by-case basis, which the union noted has led one institution to impose a deadline of its for submitting claims.
Acting Pay and Recertification Issues
Issues were raised concerning members acting long term in higher positions whose pay is affected due to recertification or training compliance issues. The union made it clear that training is the employer’s responsibility, and members should not be financially penalized for gaps in employer-led training programs. CSC acknowledged the concern and committed to reviewing the matter, particularly in the Ontario Region where it has been identified.
Inmate Accountability and Policy Application
UCCO-SACC-CSN raised concerns about inconsistencies in inmate accountability, particularly around work programs, compliance with correctional plans, and privileges at minimum-security institutions. Questions were raised about why inmates who are not compliant with their correctional plans continue to receive privileges. It is important that inmate accountability continues to be a conversation at local labour management meetings as well as regional labour management meetings. Though there needs to be changes to the legislation in the CCRA and CCRR for inmate discipline to be more effective, locals should be having discussions on immediate actions that can be taken such as loss of privileges as a disciplinary measure.
CD 574 and Policy Direction
The union has argued that this policy has become a weapon for inmates to use against staff which is unacceptable. The union will continue to bring forward specific cases to ensure clarity and accountability, and the employer has shown willingness to work with the union to address our concerns.
Use of Force and Operational Directions
Concerns were raised regarding directions being provided at Port-Cartier, related to use of force. Your executive will continue to monitor this closely to ensure that officers are supported, policies are followed, and safety is not compromised by unclear or inconsistent direction.
Consultation and Communication
Finally, UCCO-SACC-CSN raised broader concerns about consultation practices, access to information, and communication gaps—particularly around translation quality and timely sharing of materials. Effective consultation requires transparency and consistency, and the union will continue to push for improvements in this area. However, we note a recent improvement in the quality of consultations with CSC.
In Solidarity,
Your National Executive
