AUPE pays tribute to its members in Correctional Services
Albertans owe a debt of gratitude to the thousands of men and women working in the corrections system, the president of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees said today.
“Sept. 10 – 14 is Alberta Corrections Week, a time to thank these dedicated workers who routinely put their lives on the line, working with the highest-risk population imaginable,” said Guy Smith. “It’s a tough, often thankless job but they do it, day in and day out.”
Smith said the public rarely sees the challenging work that corrections workers do every day. “Their contribution is twofold. First, they help keep average Albertans safe by supervising convicted criminals. Second, they work with these offenders to help them become productive members of society.”
Clarke McChesney, chair of AUPE Local 003, which represents 2,700 provincial employees working in correctional and regulatory services, said Corrections Week is particularly important this year.
“With construction of the massive new Edmonton Remand Centre nearly complete, the government is actively recruiting more correctional peace officers to staff it,” he explained. “It’s important that prospective CPOs understand the critical role they will play in public safety.”
AUPE represents 80,000 Albertans in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors, including provincial corrections officers, correctional service workers, adult and youth probation officers, sheriffs and other peace officers.
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For more information, contact:
Guy Smith, AUPE President: (780) 265-2294
Clarke McChesney, Chair AUPE Local 003: (403) 829-1508
Andrew Hanon, AUPE communications: (780) 930-5218