Guards walked off the job in wildcat strike, unhappy with reprimand of 2 workers who raised safety concerns
Prison guards in Alberta who walked off the job in an illegal strike have been ordered back to work by the Alberta Labour Relations Board.
Guards at the Edmonton Remand Centre (ERC) walked off the job on April 26 in a wildcat strike after two union members were “reprimanded for raising ongoing safety concerns at the worksite,” according to the Alberta Union of Public Employees (AUPE).
Following in their footsteps, officers at correctional facilities in Peace River, Fort Saskatchewan, Calgary and Lethbridge walked off the job in solidarity, according to AUPE.
Thomas Lukazsuk, Alberta’s deputy premier and minister of enterprise and advanced education, said the “illegal job action” put individuals’ well-being and property at risk.
He said that, with the assistance of police and management, the critical operational needs of the centres were being met.
The province filed a complaint with the board on April 26. The Alberta Labour Relations Board issued a cease-and-desist order on April 27 to put an end to the job action. It ordered all employees to return to work immediately.
