Alberta government accused of lying to union about jail guard amnesty

EDMONTON – The union that represents Alberta’s jail guards is accusing the provincial government of using heavy-handed tactics to deal with corrections staff following their illegal strike.

The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees says deputy solicitor general Tim Grant has told Edmonton Remand Centre staff they’re not protected under an amnesty deal to end the strike over safety concerns at the new facility.

Guy Smith, the union’s president, says in a release that Grant also told centre guards during the Wednesday morning muster that there’s no new process to deal with safety issues.

Smith says Grant’s comments came after he and deputy premier Thomas Lukaszuk (loo-KAH’-zuhk) said there would be no retribution in return for agreeing to end the strike that began last Friday and ended Tuesday.

Smith says the government is inflamming a volatile situation and can calm things down by not lying to the union membership.

He says the AUPE will take whatever action is necessary to protect the guards, should they face disciplinary action.

There has been no response yet from the province to the union’s statement. (CHED, The Canadian Press)