Saskatchewan's decision to hire a private company to provide food services in eight correctional facilities is not going down well with the union that represents government workers.
The province says the five-year deal with Compass Group Canada will save more than $12 million.
The company has experience providing food service at correctional facilities in Alberta, Ontario, and British Columbia.
SGEU President Bob Bymoen says the contract will not save taxpayers money.
He says the cost of feeding inmates in other provinces with similar contracts are higher than in Saskatchewan.
He says instead of privatizing kitchen services the government should be dealing with overcrowding and staff shortages at correctional facilities.
"There is a widespread problem in all of our provincial correctional centres, largely due to overcrowding and lack of staff, and employees have had concerns about the possibility of serious injuries," he said in a release.
"This will only get worse unless the root problems are addressed. Those problems aren't in the kitchens."
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