OTTAWA,
ON, April 28, 2024 /CNW/ - On April 28 of every year, Canada observes its National Day of Mourning
in commemoration of those who have lost their lives, suffered
illness or injury on the job or experienced a work–related tragedy.
This year, the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers
(UCCO-SACC-CSN) was present on Parliament Hill to take part in a
24–hour vigil in honour of the workers for whom this day is of
special relevance.
The National Day of Mourning is of key significance to federal
correctional officers for many reasons. They are employed in a work
environment that is marked by escalating violence, which,
increasingly, targets them directly. Too often during their shifts,
they suffer physical injury or are spattered with bodily fluids
resulting from acts of assault against them. "Working in an
environment where exposure to physical and psychological harm is
routine should not be normalized. We are standing in
solidarity today with our peers and with workers who are subjected
to violence in the workplace" asserts Jeffrey Wilkins, National President of
UCCO-SACC-CSN.
It is crucially important to note that working conditions,
especially under a management structure that systematically fails
to recognize and address frontline needs, have led to one of the
worst diagnosed mental-health crises ever documented in Canadian
history. "Correctional officers are constantly on high alert.
Hundreds of us have suffered violent attacks from inmates in the
last few years. As a result of this, more than half of correctional
officers are diagnosed with at least one mental health injury
within the first 5 years of their employment," adds
Mr. Wilkins. "What we need is for our employer to take our
safety and security more seriously. We have been putting solutions
on the table and we need our employer to be more receptive and show
more respect and appreciation towards the correctional officers who
put their safety on the line each time they start their
shifts."
About UCCO-SACC
UCCO-SACC-CSN was founded in Montréal, Québec, on
January 19, 1999. It is a democratic non-profit, autonomous
employee organization, affiliated with the CSN. The Union of
Canadian Correctional Officers (UCCO-SACC-CSN) represents over
7,500 members, working in federal institutions across Canada.
SOURCE CSN - Secteur public CCSPP