Union official blames overcrowding after two more jail guards assaulted

[Better with a Union Man]

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Union+o...story.html

By Neal Hall, Vancouver Sun December 26, 2010

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Two more jail guards were recently assaulted at the North Fraser Pretrial Centre, including one officer who suffered a concussion, a union official said.

"This is just another example of how violence levels are increasing in our overcrowded prisons," said Dean Purdy, chair of corrections and sheriffs services for the B.C. Government Employees Union.

The number of assaults against staff has reached 34 within the last two years, he said. The latest took place earlier this week when a guard who was spat on by a prisoner fell and struck his head, resulting in a concussion. Last weekend, a prisoner threw hot butter, mixed with sugar and bleach, in the face of another prisoner, which splashed on a guard, burning his skin.

"I'm pretty sure the butter incident is gang-related," Purdy said.

FULL story at link.