Those performing critical work on the front lines of public safety, who are choosing to fight the war against this virus and sacrificing their own safety to make sure the safety of their communities and families are protected deserve the utmost respect.
The Correctional officers of Canada continue to work in an already demanding and dangerous environment which is now compounded by anxiety, and genuine fear as this virus spreads. Canadian Penitentiaries are not immune to the spread of this virus even though the environment is unique and much more controlled than society in general. These are the reasons that UCCO-SACC-CSN has called for controlling the borders to our facilities to only staff deemed critical. Correctional Officers continue to fulfill the mandate of protecting Canada from those that pose a danger to public safety, but Correctional Officers and all other critical public servants on the front-line need help.
If you want to help a front-line worker, please head all advice to stay home and practice safe social distancing. It is simply not acceptable that there are many Canadians who are suffering job loss, the closing their business, or who may be stranded in a foreign country, as sacrifices to flatten the curve and citizens continue to gather outside of their homes for non-essential reasons.