EDMONTON- Two correctional peace officers have been terminated for their involvement in the wildcat strike at the Fort Saskatchewan Correctional Centre in April.
Approximately 35 peace officers from the facility walked off the job Friday, April 26, following a similar move by officers at the Edmonton Remand Centre. Officers said health and safety concerns were the main reason behind the job action.
Following a review of the actions of several staff members who walked off the job, two employees were terminated Friday.
The province says two officers had their jobs terminated because they were supervisors who abandoned their posts, and in doing so, posed significant risk to the public, inmates, and their colleagues. They were also disciplined for disobeying a direct order to admit new inmates that same evening, Alberta Justice said in a written statement Friday afternoon.
The president of the AUPE says by terminating these employees, the provincial government has broken its promise not to seek retribution for the strike.
“Numerous government officials stated on record they would not seek to punish individual union members. These suspensions are a breach of that promise. The government has misled these employees, Albertans and AUPE. It’s shameful,” said Guy Smith.
However, the province maintains it has been clear with the AUPE that job action would be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Alberta Justice says only a handful of staff are facing “significant disciplinary action,” out of about 2,000 staff who walked off the job.
The union, however, says it will seek expedited arbitration over the terminations and pursue legal action against the government.
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