Courthouse sheriffs are expected to join a prison guard wildcat strike
Posted Apr 29, 2013 7:32 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Alberta sheriffs who staff courts in Calgary and Edmonton will exchange their weapons and handcuffs for picket signs Monday, as they add their support to an illegal walkout by provincial jail guards.
Workers at the Edmonton Remand Centre walked off the job last Friday, to protest the suspension of a union member after raising some health and safety issues.
Over the weekend, prison guards in other centres across the province, including Calgary, joined the walkout.
The Labour Relations Board issued a ruling on the weekend ordering the striking workers back to their jobs, but union officials say until they have assurances their concerns and grievances will be properly investigated, they won’t return.
Deputy Premier Thomas Lukaszuk hopes cooler heads will prevail, and the four-day wildcat strike will come to an end soon.
The government says the walkout by sheriffs should not impact court operations with management, RCMP and city police filling in.
Prison guards are now working without a contract; their last deal expired at the end of March.
