The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) said a “satisfactory resolution” has been reached after a lockdown was initiated at the Edmonton Remand Centre (ERC) Friday morning.
Alberta Justice said the lockdown was lifted Friday night.
AUPE president Guy Smith said the lockdown was in response to what has been described as a rash of assaults and violent attacks against staff.
“There have been a number of violent and unprovoked assaults on officers by inmates which has led to officers being knocked unconscious, having to go to hospital,” Smith said.
“There seems to be a culture building among the inmate population that it is almost open season on correctional officers. They are feeling very vulnerable and unsafe.”
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Smith said there have been eight assaults in the last 10 days and discussions are underway with government managers.
On Friday evening, the AUPE issued a news release to say the remand centre will return to normal operations as soon as possible after the remand centre and Alberta Justice agreed on a number of conditions with its workers:
- Inmates will be released on a rotational basis to reduce the risk the union says the facility design poses. It says a high number of inmates are able to gather outside of their cells at the same time, increasing the risk to both inmates and staff for injury or violence.
- The parties will meet early next week with the ADM, correctional officers and OHS staff to discuss more of the longstanding workplace health and safety problems which these members frequently face at ERC.
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The union had said guards did not want to lift the lockdown until their conditions were met. The AUPE said “the parties will meet early next week with the ADM, correctional officers and OHS staff to discuss more of the longstanding workplace health and safety problems which these members frequently face at ERC.”
In a statement to Global News on Friday, Acting Justice Minister Marlin Schmidt said safety in correctional centres is of utmost importance.
“When staff raise safety concerns we take them seriously,” Schmidt reiterated on Saturday morning. “We also value the advice and input of our correctional officers as we work to find solutions to safety concerns in a workplace that, by its nature, can be difficult and at times volatile.
“Government, management at the Edmonton Remand Centre, and the union worked throughout the day to address the concerns that led to yesterday’s lockdown. We will continue these important discussions with all parties next week.
“Every worker has the right to go to work and return safely to their families at the end of their shift. We are glad that operations at ERC have returned to normal and look forward to further discussions with staff.”
Schmidt said correctional officers receive ongoing training and police are called to investigate all incidents of alleged assaults.
An earlier statement, Schmidt said staff who are involved in an incident are offered OH&S supports, mental health and counselling supports as well as a peer support program.
Alberta Justice said remand staff will not be disciplined for the lockdown.
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Last month, the union called for better safety measures to protect guards after officers were attacked at the Edmonton and Calgary remand centres.
The union said approximately 800 correctional officers work at the jail, with roughly 150 guards on duty at any one time.
Health and safety concerns prompted some guards at the Edmonton Remand Centre to stage an illegal strike in 2013.
-with files from the Canadian Press and Global’s Emily Mertz
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