Changes to Corrections Act to Bring Correctional Officers into Civil Service

The province is amending the Corrections Act to bring correctional officers into the civil service.

The changes are necessary to accommodate the contract agreement reached with the Nova Scotia Government Employees Union Local 480 and the province on Oct. 31.

"These changes are a formality to bring correctional officers into the civil service," said Ross Landry, Minister of Justice. "Being members of the civil service has many benefits and it will help us better manage the ongoing challenges of operating a correctional facility and gives employees more options if they want a change or can no longer fulfill the role of a correctional officer."

The proposed changes remove the provisions which establish correctional officers as Department of Justice employees.

"We highly value the challenging work done by our correctional officers and are very pleased that they are joining the civil service," said Mr. Landry.

Under the new contract agreement, correctional officers will move to the civil service master agreement. They are now employees of the Department of Justice with their own bargaining unit, Local 480.