A dozen members from USGE Local 30028, employed at the Drumheller Institution and Annex in Drumheller, participated in PSAC's Talking Union Basic's (TUB) course on January 19, 2013, the first course to be offered in the town, 100 km outside of Calgary.
Interest in education opportunities specific to Drumheller has been building since workforce adjustment notices started spreading throughout Correctional Service Canada (CSC). Nearly 130 members working for CSC in the Prairie Region, and more than 1,020 nation wide, have received notices indicating they could lose their job due to the Conservative's ill-advised austerity measures.
The diverse group of participants included many young workers and representatives of nearly all job classifications, such as case workers, parole officers, administrative staff and kitchen staff. The course was very well received and the members are interested in taking the Grievance Handling course as soon as it's available.
Members took a keen interest in the bargaining process, which is especially timely as USGE is prepares to hold their Collective Bargaining Conference in conjunction with their Regional Conference, April 9-10, 2013 in Saskatoon.