Illegal jail guard strike continues past deadline
Posted Apr 30, 2013 12:40 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A court imposed noon deadline to end a wildcat strike by members of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees has come and gone.
Alberta’s jail guards have been picketing since Friday night citing safety concerns that haven’t been addressed by the province.
Sheriffs at Calgary’s courthouse are still outside holding signs as well.
A Court of Queen’s Bench justice fined the union $100,000 Monday night for the illegal strike, a penalty that increased to $350,000 at noon Tuesday.
That fine will continue to increase the longer the dispute over safety conditions at the Edmonton Remand Centre continues.
Union president Guy Smith says he met with deputy premier Thomas Lukaszuk Monday night to discuss the strike.
Smith says the talks were productive and he hopes the dispute will soon be resolved, perhaps later Tuesday.
Union officials say guards are still off the job at the new $580-million remand centre and at nine other correctional facilities across Alberta.
