11 April 2006
For immediate release

Corrections Pleased Industrial Action Discontinued

The Department of Corrections says it is pleased that Corrections Inmate Employment (CIE) CANZ members have ceased industrial action.

“Starting yesterday, CIE CANZ members began industrial action by not undertaking numerous administrative duties. We have now been advised by the CANZ Executive they have withdrawn the strike notice” says CIE Manager Brent Maughan.

“In order to protect staff and prisoner safety during the action, Corrections was left with no choice but to suspend 98 CANZ members. This was because some of the paperwork they were refusing to undertake was necessary to ensure Corrections staff had the most up-to-date prisoner information.”

Mr Maughan says staff members who were participating in the action are welcome to return to work at the start of their next scheduled shift.

“The notice of industrial action received by Corrections was for a continuous and indefinite period of industrial action and, as a result, we made contingency plans for the medium term. CANZ gave less than 30 minutes notice that industrial action was to be lifted at midday. Consequently staff have been permitted to resume work from their next rostered shift, the first of these commencing at midday.,” explains Mr Maughan.

“Corrections had made contingency plans to minimise the impact of the action and it is simply too disruptive to prison operations to change these plans in the middle of a shift.

“Corrections will now turn its attention to developing contingency plans to manage industrial action planned by CANZ CIE members on 24 April.”

CIE is responsible for the delivery of prisoner training and employment programmes. The industrial action only affected a small portion of Corrections – around 135 of the 5300 staff Corrections employs.

Mr Maughan says Corrections has been negotiating with CANZ for some time.

“Some progress was made in mediation last week and Corrections is aiming to provide a formal offer to staff later today in order to settle a short term collective agreement to 30 June 2006.

“Corrections is hopeful of resolving a longer term collective agreement from July 2006 with CANZ. That way we can get on with what we are here to do – provide prisoners with work experience and skills so they have a good chance of finding employment on their release from prison.”

ENDS

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