REGINA – The delivery of food services at Saskatchewan correction facilities may be changing.
The Ministry of Justice is currently undergoing a review to see if they are able to outsource the services to a private sector company.
A Request for Proposal (RFP) has been issued to gauge interest among external suppliers.
“Will there be a food cost-savings? Possibly,” said Dale McFee, deputy minister of corrections & policing.
The province says staff at the correction facilities who are involved in food service have been informed that the correction facilities may be outsourcing and the Public Service Commission has pledged to work with the staff and their union going forward.
“It has everything to do with contracting out and privatization,” said Bob Bymoen, president of the Saskatchewan Government & General Employees’ Union (SGEU).
This move follows the oursourcing of hospital laundry facilities and fishing licence administration.
$3.7-million was spent by the government on food service last year, though it claims this review is not about cost – but focusing on the core function of corrections, such as crime prevention and mental health.
The SGEU does question security with private food service employees.
“Who’s going to train them? Who’s going to insure these people are qualified?” asks Bymoen.
McFee says that would be taken care of through the RFP process.
“All (facilities and securities details) need to be included,” he said. “If it’s not included, it’s a non-starter.”
The ministry also says no one has been laid off, but some workers have told Global News and indicated on social media that they are expecting or have already received layoff notices.
If the food service were provided from a private company, up to 62 jobs could be affected.
No changes are expected until fall 2014.
Comments