Saskatchewan’s government union says the province’s decision to contract out food services at correctional facilities could cost as many as 60 jobs.
SGEU was reacting to Tuesday’s announcement by the Sask Party government that it plans to invite private tenders for food services at its four adult detention centres and three youth facilities.
SGEU President Bob Bymoen says he cannot understand why the government does not think providing food services at correctional facilities is not one of its core functions.
“You have to feed them three times a day, these inmates, you have to feed them every day and that’s Canadian law and international law,” he says. “How can that not be a core function?”
He adds the decision to privatize these services will cost more, not less, and the government is being driven by ideology rather than common sense.
“The bureaucrats are in a real bind, they’ve got an arbitrary directive from the government to reduce the number of in-scope employees by 15 per cent over four years and they’re in the fourth year of that program. No where in that directive did it say do it in a cost efficient manner.”
Bymoen also says the province’s decision could compromise the health of inmates.
Deputy Corrections Minister Dale McFee told reporters yesterday that it would be the fall before a final decision is made.